The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called on religious leaders in Katsina State to use their influence and platforms to promote child health, education, nutrition, vaccination, and protection among their followers.

UNICEF made the call Wednesday afternoon at a Faith for Life engagement meeting with Muslim and Christian religious leaders from the 34 Local Government Areas of the state.

Speaking, UNICEF Social and Behavioural Change Specialist, Kano Field Office, Dr Ogu Enemaku, said the Faith for Life initiative was designed to use teachings from the Qur’an and the Bible to support advocacy on issues affecting children and families.

Enemaku said the initiative draws relevant scriptural messages on health, nutrition, child protection and education, among other areas, to encourage communities to adopt behaviours that promote child survival and development.

He called on the religious leaders to obtain and study the Faith for Life materials and use the messages in their sermons, teachings and community engagements.

He said religious leaders had a significant role to play in helping families make informed decisions on healthcare and other issues affecting the wellbeing of women and children.

Speaking, the Deputy Director, Community Outreach and Development, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Abuja, Amaka Aninta, called on religious leaders to be at the forefront of encouraging their followers to vaccinate their children, attend antenatal care and address malnutrition and other challenges affecting mothers and children.

Aninta also called on participants to use Friday prayers, Islamic schools and Church services to sensitise their communities on family welfare, child protection and responsible parenting.

She lamented why children should die from preventable diseases because they were not vaccinated, or why pregnant women should lose their lives for failing to attend antenatal care or suffering from malnutrition when religious teachings support the protection and wellbeing of mothers and children.

On his part, the Acting Executive Secretary of the Katsina State Primary Health Care Agency (PHCA), Dr Shema’u Abba, described religious leaders as special guides and advocates, as well a important partners for promoting positive change in their communities.

Abba said government could not tackle the challenges confronting primary healthcare alone, adding that respected voices within communities were needed to improve maternal and child health as well as nutrition outcomes.

She further said the influence of religious leaders could go a long way to help families make informed decisions on the wellbeing of women and children.

Our correspondent reports that the meeting brought together Imams, pastors and other religious leaders from the state’s 34 councils, with participants expected to take the Faith for Life messages to their respective communities.

The engagement is aimed at strengthening community ownership of child-focused interventions and promoting positive behaviours that can improve the survival, health and development of children across the state.