Anita Ekpenyong,MOI Reporting from C4D MEETING, AWKA
The Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano has lauded the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for it’s continuous support towards women and children in Nigeria.
Governor Obiano, made the commendation during the just concluded 4-day Communication for Development (C4D), 2020 Zonal Implementation planning meeting organized for 8 states in UNICEF field office Enugu, held at Witness Garden Hotel, Awka Anambra, State.
The Governor who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information & Public Enlightenment, Anambra State. Mrs Obiageliaku Umeadi disclosed that UNICEF has done a lot to ensure that women and children enjoy good health. She used the forum to assure the participants of their safety during the meeting.
The Communication for Development (C4D) Specialist UNICEF Enugu field office, Dr. Hillary Ozoh thanked all the participants for their dedication and Commitment towards promoting Child Survival and Development Programmes, informing that this year more work would be done especially now considering the recent out-breaks, Corona Virus and Lassa fever in Nigeria.
According to Dr. Ozoh “there is a lot of work to be done, all proposals should be ready as soon as possible as implementation is expected to start soon.”
Earlier, the Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Imo State, Mr. Vitus Ekeocha highlighted the objective of the meeting to include: Finalizing on implementation plan, Developing a Schedule to guide the implementation of the planned activities, Drafting the proposals for activities, developing references that will enhance the environment for planning and delivering the planned activities.
Also speaking UNICEF program Associate, Barr. Nwamaka Chude-Onwurah made some clarifications on Direct Cash Transfer (DCT) report and how to retire cash transfers. She called on programme implementers to ensure they retire the advances given to them within the specified period or write to UNICEF for reprogramming, disclosing that DCT that is not reported within 180 days portray both the partners and UNICEF in bad light. On Spotlight Initiative, Mr Victor Atuchukwu and the Child Protection Specialist Mr. Ema, said the programme is implemented in 5 states in Nigeria: Adamawa, Crossriver, Ebonyi, Lagos and Sokoto. They explained that spotlight is a global partnership between UN and EU with objective to eliminate all forms of Violence against Women and Girls.
In his contribution , the HIV and AIDS Specialist , Dr. Olusoji revealed that Nigeria has the world’s second highest HIV burden, 3% of the Adult population is HIV positive, and estimated 3.4 million Nigerians are living with HIV, 70% of all HIV infection occurs in 12 States which have HIV prevalence rate ranging between 3% and 13%, about 10% of all new infections are due to Mother to Child transmission (MTCT).
Dr. Soji also talked on Birth Registration as a continuous right that provides Legal and documented evidence to certify a person’s existence, age, parentage, birth place and nationality. It enables a person’s eligibility for health care, admission into schools, voting, obtaining a passports, employment amongst others. At the end of the programme, many States were able to turned in their proposals waiting for response from UNICEF.