Social Protection: Kebbi reiterates commitment to improved healthcare

Kebbi Government has reiterated commitment to implement social protection
policy toward improving healthcare services, education, food and nutrition to citizens.

Hajiya Aisha Muhammad, the Permanent Secretary in the state’s Ministry of Budget and Economic Planing,
made the government’s position known at a two-day workshop on validation of drafted policy document
on Wednesday in Sokoto.

Muhammad, who is also the Chairperson of the Technical Working Committee (TWC) on the policy, also
assured maximum implementation of the policy aimed at uplifting the lives of citizens.

She said different local and international reports including World Bank indicated that over 40 per cent of Nigerians
live below the poverty line.

She explained that reports indicated that larger percentages of these people were living in Northern Nigeria,
which necessitated the promotion of social protection in line with UN standard.

She added that “widening inequality, challenges of unemployment, disability, poverty and the poor state of
public infrastructure has increased the figures of vulnerable people.

“Such group find it difficult to access good healthcare delivery, good education, food and hygiene, among other utilities.”

According to her, the over all target of the policy is to address inequality, cater for the poor and vulnerable, and reduce maternal mortality in communities.

In his contribution, Mr Enoch Bamayi, the Coordinator for OXFAM OSAID Programme in Kebbi and Adamawa states, said
measures were designed to support full implementation of the policy in view of its importance to citizens.

Bamayi said OXFAM OSAID considered the programme important to improving wellbeing of vulnerable persons in terms of quality of life and bridge the gaps in the society and assured maximum partnership to ensure desired success.

UNICEF Representative, Isa Ibrahim, said that the fund, along with other donor agencies, collaborated with the Kebbi Government on
a wide range of child related policies, strategies, plans toward improving the living standards of children, as well as support them in achieving their full potential.

Isa explained that the validation meeting was another opportunity to make a difference to the lives of the most vulnerable segments of the population.

“No doubt it will lead to the wider stakeholders’ inputs on the draft social protection policy as well as its approval and integration into development and social assistance programmes.

“Recent report released by UNICEF (2020) on Multiple Overlapping Deprivation Analysis among Nigeria’s States children shows that 76.4 of children aged 0-17 years representing 2,118, 847 children in Kebbi State suffer multidimensional deprivation.

“While 54.6 of children 0-17 years of the state representing 1,512,868, children in the State suffer monetary deprivation ” Ibrahim said.

According to him, the multidimensional deprivation approach covers indicators including access to nutrition, education, water, sanitation, housing and information.

Below chart highlights both single and multidimensional deprivation situation of Kebbi State children and their neighbouring states.

He added that social protection is a multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary approach that contributed to poverty reduction, articulating policy priorities of government towards sustainable development.

“It is in this context that UNICEF is working with the Kebbi State Government to design and implement different social protection programmes ” he added.

He said support through Educate A Child and EU MNCH cash transfer programme reached about 18,000 women and children to address their financial barriers toward accessing healthcare and education services.

A Traditional Ruler, Alhaji Muhhamadu Bashar, described the policy as desirable and assured robust commitment, while Mr Ibrahim Ngaski, the Chairman, Coalition of Civil Society in Kebbi, commended the good gesture.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that participants at the validation meeting comprised members of Civil Society Organisations, labour leaders, religious and traditional leaders,
as well as development partners. (NAN)