The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has donated hygiene materials for infection control and prevention to over 200 health facilities across the 27 local government areas of Borno State to improve healthcare service delivery.
Francis Butichi, the UNICEF Chief of the Maiduguri Field Office, stated this during a handover event with the Borno State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency and officials of the state healthcare services in Maiduguri.
He said the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Facility Improvement Tools (WASHFIT) were donated to enhance the quality, safety, and sustainability of health services for women and children in the state.
He said, “WASHFIT supports health facilities to strengthen infection prevention and control, improve access to safe and reliable water, promote appropriate hygiene practices, and enhance healthcare waste management—measures that are essential to protecting patients, health workers, and the community from preventable infections.”
“We are targeting all the 27 LGAs, and we have over 200 health facilities in these LGAs that will benefit from this donation,” he noted.
He further emphasised that the materials will significantly improve the quality of services provided at the facilities.
“I am pleased to announce that the assessment was fully aligned with national standards and with WHO and UNICEF global guidance. These materials, which include buckets, sprayers, detergents, among others, will go a long way in ensuring the quality of services at the health facilities.”
“For instance, you are aware that many women have died while giving birth. In Nigeria, every 7 minutes, a woman dies during childbirth. Mostly it’s because of the environment or the safety of the equipment they are using for delivery, and that is why we are providing these tools,” he stated.
Butichi, however, explained that the supplies reflect UNICEF’s commitment to supporting the government in addressing identified gaps, particularly in facilities requiring urgent action to meet the minimum WASH and IPC standards.
Responding, the General Manager of the State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, Muhammad Aliy, commended the initiative, describing it as a timely response to the needs of vulnerable women and children in the state.
“We commend UNICEF for this initiative and especially the timeliness of this assistance. As an agency, we will ensure that the materials are well utilised and maintained,” he said.
