At least one in six children in Katsina State die before reaching their fifth birthday, according to new data from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), highlighting the urgent need for stronger child survival initiatives.
This alarming figure, equivalent to 159 deaths per 1,000 live births, was revealed by Rahama Rihood Farah, Chief of the UNICEF Field Office in Kano. He spoke during a media dialogue on child-sensitive budgeting and planning, jointly organised by UNICEF and the Katsina State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.
Farah stated that despite ongoing interventions, the situation remains dire. “The data speaks for itself, and it is not flattering. Only 41% of children are fully immunised, leaving most exposed to preventable and potentially fatal diseases,” he said.
He further explained that 75.5% of children in Katsina are multidimensionally poor, lacking access to essential services such as healthcare, education, and proper nutrition. Additionally, 61.2% live in monetary poverty, limiting families’ ability to meet basic needs.
One-third of children in the state remain out of school at the primary level, threatening long-term human capital and economic development. Furthermore, only 23.4% of children aged 6 to 23 months receive the minimum acceptable diet required for healthy growth and cognitive development.
Over half of all children under five (51.3%) are stunted, indicating widespread chronic malnutrition with serious long-term effects on health and productivity.
Farah pointed out that the social sector budget in Katsina has steadily declined in recent years — from 38.57% in 2016 to just 12.98% in 2020 — a trend that needs urgent reversal.
“Children make up more than half of Katsina’s population. Investing in them is not charity; it is a strategic move to build human capital, break the cycle of poverty, and promote long-term peace and prosperity,” he asserted.
He added that the domesticated Child Rights Act in Katsina should be seen not only as a legal mandate but also as a call for targeted budgetary action.
“Our singular agenda is to ensure that Katsina State plans and budgets in a way that deliberately prioritises the health, development, and protection of every child,” Farah concluded.
The media dialogue was held at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina, and was attended by officials from various ministries, departments, agencies, and civil society organisations.