Today, 12th April, 2017, Good Nigerians join the consortium of street children as the State Ministry of Health, Ministry of Social welfare, Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN) Cross Primary Development Agency, Mediatrix Development Foundation, World Health organisation, UNICEF, UNFPA, fhi360, Nigeria Red Cross, Leo District 404A2 – Calabar Golden Leo club, Medias and other partners and Agencies collaborate to mark the International day for Street children with the theme ‘THIS IS OUR TIME’, in Calabar, Cross River State (CRS).
It was an epic day for the event since 2011, as the United Nation for the first time will today release an authoritative guidelines for the rights of street children as Governments and various organisations world wide called upon to implement it.
According to UN sources, there are up to 150 millions Street children in the world today. They are children chased away from home by violence, drug and alcohol abuse, the dead of a parent, family breakdown, war, natural disaster and simply socioeconomic collapse.
Many destitute children are forced to eke out of a living on a streets, scavenging, begging, hawking in the slums and polluted cities and polluted cities of the developing world.
Without some forms of basic education, access to health care, legal aids, welfare and economic training, the future is bleak for these Street children and their life expectancy terrifying low.
Key Events were Panel discussion, medical outreach, Novelty Football match, stage play and distribution of wears and clothing materials among others.
To make health care services affordable, accessible and available to the street children, Her Excellency, Dr (Mrs) Linda Ayade, the First Lady of Cross River State through her pet project and Foundation,-Mediatrix Development Foundation (MDF) and Medical Women Association of Nigeria, Cross River State chapter through her President, Dr Nchiewe Ani in partnership with CRS, Commissioner for Health, Dr Inyang Asibong through the State Ministry of Health, made provision for periodic health care check up for street children at Medical Women Association of Nigeria secretariat., Moore Road, Calabar, Cross River State.
Those in attendance were DG, CRSPHCDA, Dr Betta Edu; representative of UNFPA Dr Aliyu Yakubu; Mr Jeff of Chickens studio; Former Chairman of Calabar Municipality, Hon Donatus Etim; Executive Director, Mediatrix Development Foundation, Mr Jeff Adamade; Save the Children; Dr Mrs Onoyom Ita of SYDRIs; Mrs Theresa OKpa of PACT; Leo Asuquo Boco of Leo District 404A2 Nigeria; representatives from Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare; Gender Development Initiative, GPI; Federal Psychiatric Hospital, Calabar; UNICEF; CUSO International; Grace Consulate; FHI 360 among others.
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