UNICEF Tasks Gov Dankwambo On Release Of N248M Counterpart Fund To Fight Malnutrition In Gombe

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has appealed to Gombe state government to release the 248 million Naira support fund to expand the implementation of Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM).

Drissa Yeo, officer in charge of UNICEF Bauchi field office, who made the appeal at the 2018 State Engagement Plan Development meeting in Gombe on Monday, called on the state extend the coverage to at least 3 additional local government areas.

He also called on the Governor to direct for the release of N10 million for 2017/2018 annual school census and maintenance of education management information system servers as well as facilities in the Ministry of Education and the state Universal Basic Education Board for the female teachers Trainees Scholarship Scheme.

Yeo said that Gombe state Government buy-in to the Female Teacher Trainees’ Scholarship Scheme project by endorsing an MOU to sponsor more girls and enunciate a policy on recruitment and deployment of more female teachers and FTTSS graduates to teach in rural schools across the state.

“All the work plan for UNICEF supported programmers be considered, appropriation made for them and what has been appropriated released for implementation , including release of government counterpart cash contribution for the year 2018 for the sectors of Health, Nutrition and education

“This is our first joint meeting in Gombe state since the federal government and UNICEF started a new 5 years programme which will be implemented from 2018-2022. it is also the first time UNICEF is bringing all neighbouring states to Gombe state to plan together this is the result of the good collaboration we have enjoyed and continue to enjoy with the Gombe state government

In his remark, the Gombe state Secretary to the state Government, Mr. James Pisagih who was represented by the Permanent Secretary General Duties, Usman Mohammed Shamaki, commended UNICEF Bauchi field office for the effort towards improving the lives of the women and children in the state and the nation as whole.

“With the intervention of the UNICEF Bauchi field Office Gombe State Coordinating Office, GOMSACA and the implementing partners, cases of HIV has reduced tremendously in the state from 8.2 percent to 4.0%, regrettably UNICEF has withdrawn its support to HIV intervention in the state. I therefore call on the organisation to reconsider its stand in order to facilitate total eradication of the scourge in Gombe state”, Pisagih added.

Gombe Gender Bill Not For Men And Women To Rub Shoulders say Women Affairs ministry

Gombe State Ministry for Women Affairs and Social Welfare has said that the proposed Gender and Equal Opportunities for All Persons Law is not for men and women to rub shoulders, but to create a space for women to have equal chances with their male counterpart in terms of access to services, opportunities and societal resources for sustainable development.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Ishiaku Mohammed stated this at a two day review meeting of the state gender committee organised by the UN Women in collaboration with the Ministry in Gombe on Tuesday

“My esteem members, this review meeting is aimed at looking over and to brush up the Content of the Gender and equal Opportunities for All Person Bill, as well as to strategise ways to facilitate its passage in Gombe state

“I appreciate the strong effort made by the committee members who have been concurrently engaged in reviewing this bill today the bill has made reasonable progress in the right direction

“After series of sensitization and engagement with line stakeholders, am happy to inform the committee members that the bill is now with all members of the executive council to make their rightful inputs for onward reading by the exco and be presented to the state house of Assembly”, the Permanent Secretary said.

The Technical Advisor of the UN Women in Gombe State, Rhoda Zira-Dia, encouraged members of the various committees to work hard to ensure that the bill is passed before the end of the UN Women Project in Gombe, by June, this year.

Zira-Dia further said that the passage of the bill can encourage UN women to include Gombe if there would be phase 2 of the project.

“It is expected that at end of the review meeting, committee members will get the final draft of the bill, the Work plan and next steps to fast track passage of the bill.