Investor Presentaiton
severe bacterial infection in young infants less than two months showed positive results. The
piloting of those interventions is still ongoing, mainly in Maradi region.
This year again, seasonal malaria chemoprevention saved the lives of many children with an
incidence of malaria decreasing by 13,608 cases compared to 2017. In addition, the
development of the Community Health Strategic Plan 2019-2023 was one of the main
priorities, as well as the scaling up of Integrated Community Case Management of childhood
illnesses, which reached 86 municipalities in 6 regions in 2018. By the end of the year, 100,445
children had been treated for pneumonia, 101,704 for diarrhea and 97,092 for malaria.
Good progress was achieved with the Enlarged Programme on Immunization. This was
achieved through cold chain optimization including effective vaccine management, and the
development of national guidelines for Reaching Every Child with Equity. According to WHO
and UNICEF estimates of National Immunization Coverage, the Penta-3 coverage rate
increased from 68% in 2014 to 81% in 2017, allowing the protection of increased numbers of
children against vaccine-preventable diseases.
UNICEF also supported heath system strengthening and improved data collection and
analysis. In 2018, the scaling up of the District Health Information System platform progressed,
as well as the strengthening of the capacities of the national procurement institution.
In 2018, UNICEF contributed to strengthening emergency preparedness and response
activities through active participation in national coordination mechanisms including the
National Health Cluster and the National Committee for Outbreak Control. UNICEF also
supported the implementation of "The New Way of Working" by strengthening coordination
between humanitarian and development-oriented stakeholders and embedding health system
strengthening interventions as part of emergency preparedness and response programmes.
As in previous years, Niger experienced several outbreaks in 2018, including measles.
UNICEF supported the Government-run vaccination response for measles, reaching 158,285
children aged 9 months to 14 years throughout the country, representing twice the number of
children who were targeted (71,732). UNICEF support included vaccine pre-positioning and
operational support.
Moreover, UNICEF provided emergency assistance to Diffa and Tillabery regions, where
health service delivery was disrupted due to security issues and population movements.
Initiatives included support to mobile clinics (reaching 6,788 children) and iCCM in
emergencies (reaching 1,288 children).
Finally, UNICEF supported the implementation of the HIV scale-up plan to accelerate
screening, antiretroviral treatment and prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV led
to increased coverage. In 2018, 96% of health facilities including referral hospitals were
providing HIV testing services; however, only 10% of HIV-exposed infants were tested within
2 months of birth, pointing to the need for further work.
III. Strategic Context of 2018
Niger context
Niger is a landlocked Sahelian country of 21.5 million people, most of whom live in rural areas
(84%). The population is young, with 58% of Nigeriens being under 18, and nearly half of the
population is poor, despite reductions in the poverty rate over the past decade. The country,
which ranks last on the 2018 Human Development Index, sees its development constrained
by several factors: climatic conditions that hinder rural development, vulnerability due to the
absence of economic diversification, high population growth, gender equality issues, low
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