CRC/C/NGA/CO/3-4 disabilities (CRC/C/15/Add.257, para. 47). The Committee strongly recommends the State party : (a) To adopt a national policy on children with disabilities, based inter alia on the findings of the ongoing survey, and consider the establishment of a coordinating body to help focus on the special needs of children with disabilities; (b) To continue its efforts to ensure access to education and health services for all children with disabilities in all states and to address existing geographical disparities with respect to available social services. Health and health services 58. The Committee notes with appreciation the significant efforts of the State party in the field of health, notably the adoption of the National Health Policy (2005), the Integrated Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (IMNCH) Strategy (2007), immunization programmes, including the revised guidelines for distribution of funds for the effective use of the Global Alliance on Vaccine for Immunization (GAVI) fund, and improved access to safe drinking water. The Committee also notes with appreciation the provision of free maternal and child health services in 18 northern states as well as the significant progress in halting polio last year, subsequent to action taken by local leaders in rural areas of the northern states. It further welcomes the adoption of the National Strategic Health Development Plan in March 2010 and indications that the Government intends to increase its allocation to the health sector (currently 4 per cent in the 2010 budget proposal). 59. The Committee nevertheless remains seriously concerned at the continued high rate of infant, child and maternal mortality (the second-highest in the world) and the high incidences of preventable diseases such as malaria, HIV/AIDS and diarrhoea. It expresses its utmost concern at the significant geographical disparity between the northern and southern regions of the State party in terms of the coverage of vaccination, the very low percentage of children who received full immunization, the rate of malnourishment, and incidences of child diseases, and the strong correlation between access to health care (including pre- and post-natal care) and the level of education and income. 60. The Committee, referring also to the recommendations by the Committee on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) of 2008 (CEDAW/C/NGA/CO/6, paras. 31-34), urges the State party, as a matter or priority: (a) To strengthen the capacity of its decentralized health care system to deliver, including by ensuring effective roll-out of the second and third phases of the IMNHC, while prioritizing the most disadvantaged northern states; (b) To strengthen the coverage of the National Immunization Programs, especially in rural areas; (c) To consider nutrition as a national priority and to provide appropriate resources for the implementation of nutrition programmes and to ensure their full integration into government health structures; (d) To develop ongoing efforts to ensure community participation and ownership, especially parents, regarding pre- and post-natal care, child health, nutrition and family planning; (e) To address the correlation between access to health care and girls’ education, with a view to combat maternal mortality and empower women in decision-making concerning their health care; 14