KOTA KINABALU: The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Malaysia has recognised the Sabah State Government’s commitment to strengthening child wellbeing through its adoption and implementation of recommendations outlined in the 2026 Sabah Child Wellbeing Index (SCWI) Report.

UNICEF Malaysia Representative Robert Gass said the integration of the report’s recommendations into the state’s development planning reflects a high level of accountability and transparency in ensuring that the welfare and future of children remain a priority.

The SCWI 2026 Report, launched jointly by UNICEF Malaysia and the Sabah State Economic Planning Unit (UPEN Sabah), involved 4,441 children and their caregivers across the state through a two-phase study approach.

The first phase was conducted primarily using a random household sampling method, while the second phase employed purposive sampling through community-based outreach programmes.

Overall, the report presented encouraging findings, assessing child wellbeing across six key dimensions using the Alkire-Foster Method and Multiple Overlapping Deprivation Analysis (MODA).

The six dimensions examined were health, growth and development, learning and education, opportunities for play and leisure, social relationships and participation, as well as safety and a harmonious living environment.

Among the key achievements highlighted in the report, 92.3 per cent of children in Sabah have access to healthcare services, while 95.6 per cent have access to mental health and wellbeing services.

The report also found that more than 99.3 per cent of children in Sabah are protected from child marriage.

However, the study identified several challenges requiring urgent attention, particularly those affecting stateless children and children and families without valid identification documents.

According to the report, these groups remain among the most vulnerable and consistently record lower wellbeing outcomes compared to children with complete legal documentation.

In response, UNICEF and the Sabah State Government have put forward a number of recommendations aimed at addressing these issues through a phased and sustained approach.

Meanwhile, UPEN Sabah has decided to incorporate the recommendations into the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) development framework to ensure long-term benefits for both the state and its people.

The move is also in line with Malaysia’s commitment as a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).

In its report, UNICEF acknowledged that implementing the recommendations would present various challenges. Nevertheless, the organisation expressed confidence in the Sabah State Government’s ability to address these challenges progressively and consistently in the years ahead, for the benefit of all children in the state.