By Ankeli Emmanuel (In Sokoto State)
The Sokoto State Government in collaboration with the UN Joint SDGs programme on Institutionalizing social protection for accelerated SDGs implementation in Nigeria, on Saturday, launched the cash transfer of five thousand naira to each of the two thousand (2000) benefitting pregnant and lactating women, as well as children under two years old.
Flagging of the cash transfer which is also part of the UN-SGDs health insurance programme for 6000 beneficiaries from Bodinga, Wamakko and Wurno local government areas of Sokoto State, the Sokoto UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Mr Maulid Warfa, disclosed that the United Nations gesture is being jointly implemented by the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) International Labour Organization, (ILO), World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Mr Maulid who was represented by Isa Ibrahim, Sokoto UNICEF Field Office Social Policy Specialists, appreciated Sokoto state government for giving development partners all the needed support towards impacting lives in the State.
According to him, the 2000 beneficiaries will be given N5000 naira monthly for the next six months. "They will be giving this money without any condition for this month. But from next month, the condition for payment is evidence that they attend hospital for ante natal, and other services".
Mr Maulid assured that he is optimistic that Sokoto state government is going to continue the gesture looking at their preparations.
On her part, the Special Adviser to Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal on Sokoto Contributory Health Care Management Agency (SOCHEMA), Dr Amanatu Yusuf, represented by Mallam Abubakar Hassan, added that UNICEF paid N12,000 to the agency for free medical assistance to 6000 people for the next one year.
Narrating how Sokoto State government remained committed to improving the quality of lives of her citizenry, Mr Arzika Usman Bodinga, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, revealed that the governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal led administration devoted huge amount of money for counterpart funding programmes.
While noting that the governor is concerned about everybody in the State, Arzika Bodinga, appealed to people to go and get themselves registered in the national social registrar
In their separate goodwill messages, the Special Adviser to governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal on Primary Health Care Development Agency (PHCDA), Hon Abubakar Chika, represented by Mallam Nasiru Magori and chairmen of benefitting local government areas, ( Wamakko, Bodinga and Wurno), Hon Bello Haliru Guiwa, Hon Abdullahi Sifawa and Hon Chika, thanked the UN Joint SDGs for the gesture. NNL
