UNICEF Donates Infection Prevention Materials to 200 Health Facilities in Borno

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has donated hygiene and infection prevention materials to over 200 health facilities across all 27 local government areas of Borno State, Nigeria. The donation, announced by Francis Butichi, UNICEF Chief of the Maiduguri Field Office, includes Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Facility Improvement Tools (WASHFIT) such as buckets, sprayers, and detergents. These resources aim to strengthen infection prevention and control, improve access to safe water, promote hygiene practices, and enhance healthcare waste management. Butichi emphasized that these measures are critical for protecting patients and health workers from preventable infections, particularly addressing the high maternal mortality rate in Nigeria, where a woman dies every seven minutes during childbirth due to unsafe environments or equipment. The initiative aligns with national standards and global WHO and UNICEF guidance. Muhammad Aliyu, General Manager of the Borno State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, praised the timely assistance and committed to ensuring the proper utilization and maintenance of the donated materials to support vulnerable women and children in the region.