Musa Na Allah, Sokoto
To improve healthcare delivery, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in partnership with the Sokoto State Government, has launched a comprehensive free healthcare program targeting 15,400 vulnerable residents across the state.
Unveiled on Tuesday in Sokoto, the initiative seeks to close healthcare gaps for disadvantaged groups often excluded from essential services and social safety nets.
As part of the rollout, UNICEF announced that about 3,000 households not listed in the state’s social register will now be included, giving them access to healthcare and welfare interventions.
To strengthen efficiency, UNICEF donated three laptops, 200 tablets, and 200 power banks to enhance data management within the state’s social register, a move officials say will improve coordination and service delivery in health facilities.
UNICEF’s new Country Representative, Mrs. Wafa Saied, revealed that the organisation has committed ₦500 million in counterpart funding for nutrition supplies in Sokoto.
This contribution complements the ₦500 million already earmarked by the state government for nutrition programs focused on mothers and children.
Commending the government’s commitment, Saied said: “We are impressed with the priority given to healthcare and nutrition in Sokoto’s budgetary allocation.
“UNICEF will continue to partner with the state to ensure vulnerable families access quality health services.”
Representing the state government, Deputy Governor Idris Muhammad Gobir described the project as a “life-saving intervention” that will significantly improve citizens’ welfare.
He emphasized that healthcare already receives the largest allocation in Sokoto’s 2024 and 2025 budgets, underlining the administration’s determination to extend services to every community, particularly vulnerable households.
Gobir added that the partnership with UNICEF will also strengthen the fight against malnutrition in the state.
Observers note that the collaboration represents one of the strongest ties yet between UNICEF and Sokoto State, signaling renewed efforts to build an inclusive healthcare system that leaves no citizen behind.
