UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative Visits Ganjuwa to Boost Community-Led Child Welfare Efforts

From Paul Orude, Bauchi

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Nigeria Country Representative, Waafa Saeed Abdelatef, on Tuesday visited the District Head of Ganjuwa, Alhaji Mohammed Baba, at his palace in Kafin Madaki, Ganjuwa Local Government Area of Bauchi State, as part of efforts to strengthen community-led initiatives for child welfare.

Abdelatef, who was accompanied by top UNICEF officials including Nuzhat Rafique, Chief of Field Office (CFO) Bauchi, George Eki SBC specialist, Dr David Audu, Health specialist,
Nanbam Michael, WASH officer, Philomena Irene, Nutrition Specialist, and a UNICEF-supported media team, described the visit as a significant first step in her engagement with local communities.

“It’s a great honour to be in your presence at your respective palace here in Ganjuwa, this is our first step,” the UNICEF Nigeria Country Rep told the traditional ruler.

“For us as UNICEF it is really mandatory to work with communities with leaders like yourself and the government to give children the best start in life, which means that the children get vaccinated, get good nourishment, get good education and be protected and also be able to cope.

“This also aligns with our religion which guides us to take care of the young, which is something very important and so we have come here to your respective presence in your respective palace.

“Our first step is to really learn to listen and understand so that we can support. And your leadership to us as UNICEF is very important because we look up to you and we are very grateful for this opportunity.”

In his response, the District Head, who also holds the title of Madakin Bauchi, expressed gratitude for the visit, describing it as a deep honour for him and the people of his community.

“This is a visit we will cherish for a long time to come,” he said.

The monarch, who expressed appreciation that the local Government is one of the ones declared Open Free Defecation (ODF), noted that child and maternal health outcomes had improved significantly in all 16 wards of Ganjuwa following community-led efforts supported by UNICEF and the state government. These include initiatives such as Fathers for Good Health (F4H), Mama2Mama Support Groups, and WASHCOMs (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Committees).

“These interventions have boosted antenatal attendance, immunization compliance and sanitation and hygiene standards in all our communities in Ganjuwa,” Mohammed Baba disclosed.

He thanked UNICEF and the state government for their efforts and pledged the continued support of traditional rulers in Ganjuwa and beyond to ensure the success of the interventions.

The UNICEF Country Representative also visited Badau community in Ganjuwa, where she met the head, Abba Hardo, before holding interactive engagements with Mama2Mama Support Groups, including Fathers for Good health, WASHCOMs, and Village Community Mobilizers.

Metoric Post reports that Ganjuwa hosts 52 Mama2Mama groups, 160 Fathers for Good Health members, and 29 Village Community Mobilizers.

Rabi Yusuf, team leader of Mama2Mama in Ganjuwa, explained that their work includes house-to-house sensitization, referral of pregnant women to health facilities, follow-up for antenatal and immunizations, and awareness creation on complementary feeding and exclusive breastfeeding.

She, however, highlighted challenges: “Some of the challenges we encounter include lack of funding as the volunteers make personal contributions of money to access hard-to-reach areas. She said that issues of non-compliance were often recorded but with the support of Fathers for Good Health resolved that, logistic should be provided.”

Similarly, Abdullahi Lawal Kefi, leader of Fathers for Good Health in Ganjuwa, noted their role in mobilization, sensitization, and resolving non-compliance cases.

“Since we came on board six months ago, we have reconciled 80 non-compliance cases,” Kefi said.

“Our challenges include low capacity of members, issues of logistics which affects our ability to carry out our activities in hard-to-reach communities.”

Abdelatef commended the community resource groups for their commitment, describing their efforts as vital to improving the welfare of children in Bauchi State.