“2.5 Million Latrines Needed to Prevent Cholera,” UNICEF Says
The Ebonyi State Government and UNICEF have agreed to strengthen collaboration to prevent cholera outbreaks and improve child health across the state.
UNICEF’s Chief of Field Services, Ms Judith Léveillé, warned that open defecation remains a major risk for cholera and other diseases. She proposed constructing 2.5 million latrines in Ebonyi to eliminate open defecation and protect vulnerable children.
Governor Nwifuru Urges Action on Immunisation and Sanitation
Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru endorsed UNICEF’s call for urgent interventions in sanitation, nutrition, and immunisation. “I want the local government chairmen here to take immunisation seriously,” he said. He also committed to constructing toilets in markets, schools, and public areas to curb open defecation and reduce cholera risks.
The governor highlighted the need for accurate data collection at primary healthcare centres to ensure effective policies and better maternal and child health outcomes.
UNICEF Highlights Progress and Challenges
Léveillé disclosed that UNICEF has invested over $1 million in Ebonyi State in the past three years, supporting health systems, routine immunisation, and birth registration. She warned that one in three children under five is stunted and over 417,000 children are anaemic.
She also commended the state’s ₦150 million contribution to the Child Nutrition Fund—matched by UNICEF—as a critical intervention to improve nutrition outcomes. Léveillé praised Governor Nwifuru’s health sector reforms and timely release of counterpart funding, describing them as crucial for child welfare.
Governor Nwifuru stressed that inaccurate data could undermine development efforts and urged UNICEF and other partners to adopt robust strategies for targeted interventions.
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