By Abdullahi Inuwa
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has urged religious leaders in Katsina State to leverage their strong influence in communities to promote child health, routine immunisation, nutrition, education and the protection of vulnerable children.
The appeal was made on Wednesday during a Faith for Life engagement meeting involving Muslim and Christian clerics drawn from the 34 Local Government Areas of the state.
Speaking at the event, UNICEF Social and Behavioural Change Specialist at the Kano Field Office, Dr Ogu Enemaku, said religious leaders remained powerful voices for driving positive behavioural change among families.
He explained that the Faith for Life initiative was developed to connect messages contained in the Qur’an and Bible with critical issues affecting the survival and development of children.
According to him, the initiative provides faith-based messages on healthcare, nutrition, education and child protection, which religious leaders can incorporate into sermons, teachings and community activities.
Enemaku urged participants to study the Faith for Life materials and consistently use the messages to educate their followers and encourage healthier decisions for women and children.
He noted that religious leaders were strategically positioned to influence family decisions, particularly on issues such as immunisation, maternal healthcare, nutrition and child welfare.
Also speaking, the Deputy Director, Community Outreach and Development of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Abuja, Amaka Aninta, challenged clerics to make child vaccination, antenatal care and nutrition regular topics in their religious gatherings.
Aninta encouraged participants to utilise Friday prayers, Islamic schools, church services and other community platforms to promote responsible parenting, family welfare and child protection.
She expressed concern over preventable deaths among children and pregnant women, stressing that many of such tragedies could be avoided through timely vaccination, proper antenatal care and adequate nutrition.
“If religious teachings emphasise the protection and wellbeing of mothers and children, communities should be encouraged to translate those teachings into action,” she said.
In her remarks, the Acting Executive Secretary of the Katsina State Primary Health Care Agency (PHCA), Dr Shema’u Abba, described religious leaders as important partners in efforts to improve primary healthcare outcomes.
Abba said government alone could not overcome the challenges facing the healthcare sector, stressing the need for respected community voices to support campaigns on maternal and child health and nutrition.
She added that the trust enjoyed by religious leaders could help families overcome misconceptions and make informed decisions about healthcare services.
The engagement brought together Imams, pastors and other faith leaders from across Katsina’s 34 local government areas.
Participants are expected to take the Faith for Life messages back to their communities and integrate them into sermons, teachings and outreach activities.
The initiative is ultimately aimed at strengthening community participation in child-focused programmes and encouraging behaviours that will improve child survival, health, education and overall development across Katsina State.
About The Author
