UNICEF Representative Djanabou Mahonde Begins Diffa Field Mission To Protect Children

On Monday, January 19, 2026, UNICEF Representative in Niger Ms. Djanabou Mahonde began a field mission in the Diffa region that would run until January 21, 2026.

The visit was described as follow-up to UNICEF interventions alongside the Government of Niger, aimed at promoting and protecting the rights of children in areas facing multiple and diverse challenges.

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Upon arriving in Diffa, Mahonde was received by the Region's Governor, Major General Mahamadou Ibrahim Bagadoma, and the exchanges focused on children and communities affected by multidimensional crises as well as government priorities in health, education, child protection, and WASH.

Mahonde said the mission would assess actions on the ground, listen to local authorities, and ensure UNICEF interventions were aligned with national priorities, adding, "it is important for me to visit the different regions to see the work on the ground".

The mission was set to continue on Tuesday, January 20, 2026 in the Mainé-Soroa department, with a visit to the Garaoua School and the Garaoua Proximity College, followed by meetings with administrative and customary authorities and a visit to the Integrated Health Center (CSI) in Guidan Kaji.

In Egypt, Dr. Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar, Minister of Health and Population, met Natalia Rassi, UNICEF Representative in Egypt, and an accompanying delegation at the ministry's headquarters in the New Administrative Capital to discuss ways to strengthen joint cooperation in child health.

The meeting, attended by Dr. Amr Kandil and Dr. Abla Al-Alfi, deputy ministers, and Dr. Zeinab Al-Sadr, Assistant Deputy Minister, included discussion of mechanisms to strengthen partnership in primary health care, maternal and child health, and nutrition and immunization programs.

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The ministry spokesperson Dr. Hossam Abdel-Ghafar said the talks also covered supporting digital transformation in health, developing health information systems and health data, and enhancing the health system's resilience to crises and pandemics.

Abdel-Ghafar stressed that the meeting underscored UNICEF's role as a key partner in supporting child health programs, nutrition, immunizations, and early childhood development, in line with Egypt's Vision 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals.

The spokesperson added that the minister praised collaboration with UNICEF under long- and short-term programs and emphasized continuing this cooperation to improve child health indicators and services provided through primary health care units.

In Ramallah on Monday, July 6, 2026, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health Wael Al-Sheikh discussed with UNICEF Regional Health Advisor Sowmya Kadandale ways to strengthen joint cooperation to support the Palestinian health sector.

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The meeting was held at Al-Sheikh's office in Ramallah, where he reviewed the health situation in Palestine and major challenges confronting the sector in the West Bank, including Jerusalem hospitals.

Al-Sheikh also described difficult humanitarian and health conditions in the Gaza Strip that placed increasing pressure on the healthcare system, and he briefed the UNICEF delegation on the repercussions of a financial crisis affecting the health sector and the resulting impact on the sustainability of healthcare services.

He stressed that the Ministry of Health continues to fulfill its national and humanitarian responsibilities by providing medical services to citizens within available resources and capabilities despite exceptional circumstances and mounting challenges.

Kadandale reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to continuing cooperation with the Ministry of Health and to supporting its efforts to strengthen healthcare services and address priority needs.