Nigeria: Unicef Worry Over High HIV/Aids Infection in Rivers

Port Harcourt — The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has expressed its readiness to assist the Rivers State Government with technical inputs to boost the Universal Basic Education programme there.
This is as the international organization expressed worry at the high rate of HIV/AIDS infection in the state, saying a recent sentinel survey reveals that HIV prevalence rate in the state is six per cent, while the national average rate is 4.1 per cent.
UNICEF Country Representative in Nigeria, Mr Charles Nzuki gave the indication on Tuesday during the signing of the 2011 Programme Implementation Agreement (PIA) between Rivers State and UNICEF at Government House, Port Harcourt .
Nzuki therefore appealed to the governor Chibuike Amaechi-led government to expedite action in the eradication of HIV /AIDS infection in the state.
Nzuki, said his organization was committed to providing technical assistance to the state government in its effort to give the children of the state qualitative education, adding that UNICEF came to the conclusion following successes attained by the state in the implementation of the education strategic sector plan.
"UNICEF commends the state for the child friendly schools in the state as a result of the construction of over 373 model primary schools that are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities like libraries, computers etc for training primary school children", he stated.
He however enjoined the state government to put in place mechanism that would ensure that children in "hard to reach communities" of the state access same opportunities that would promote child survival and enhance the potential of the state.
The UNICEF country representative said such effort would boost Nigeria 's effort in meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) four and five which include reduction of child mortality and improvement of maternal health.
Mr Nzuki also indicated the preparedness of the world body to partner with the state in the area of data generation which, according to him, is strategic to planning and economic development.
Responding, Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi said the State Government would continue to partner with UNICEF even beyond the issues raised.
Amaechi who signed the 2011 Programme Implementation Agreement on behalf of the State Government further reaffirmed that his administration would collaborate with UNICEF in data generation, especially the maternal mortality rate in the state.
On the HIV/AIDS prevalent rate, he explained that government needs to know the impact of the presence of new 100 health care centres in the rural areas, to ascertain if the maternal mortality rate in the state has improved.
The governor assured them of the readiness of the Rivers State Government to release its counterpart funds to ensure speedy implementation of the agreement.
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