UNICEF Donates Infection Control Supplies to 200 Health Centres in Borno

The United Nations Children’s Fund has supplied infection prevention and hygiene materials to over 200 health facilities across all 27 local government areas of Borno State.

Francis Butichi, head of UNICEF’s Maiduguri field office, announced the donation on Friday during a meeting with the Borno State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency and state healthcare officials in Maiduguri.

Butichi stated that the materials, known as WASHFIT (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Facility Improvement Tools), are intended to enhance the quality and safety of health services for women and children. He explained that the tools help facilities strengthen infection control, improve access to safe water, promote good hygiene, and manage healthcare waste more effectively.

“We are targeting all 27 LGAs, and over 200 health facilities will benefit from this donation,” Butichi said. He added that the supplies include buckets, sprayers, detergents, and other essential items.

He also highlighted the link between poor hygiene and maternal deaths, noting that in Nigeria, a woman dies every seven minutes during childbirth, often due to unsafe environments or equipment. According to Butichi, the donation aligns with national and global standards set by the World Health Organisation and UNICEF.

Responding to the development, Muhammad Aliyu, General Manager of the Borno State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, commended UNICEF for the timely intervention. He assured that the materials would be properly used and maintained to benefit vulnerable women and children across the state.