The Imo State Agency for Community and Social Development on Tuesday said it spent N474 million on 106 projects between 2010 and 2013.

The agency’s General Manger, Mr Amah Uwalaka, said this when he received a federal monitoring team in Owerri to inspect the agency’s projects in the state.

The agency was established as part of a World Bank-assisted programme to reduce poverty and to improve access to services for human development.

“The project is currently intervening in 84 communities out of the 435 communities that have so far applied for assistance.

“The sum of N474 million has been disbursed to beneficiary communities for implementation of micro projects contained in their community development plans.

” About 106 micro-projects have been completed in various sectors while 58 micro projects are ongoing; total number of funded micro-projects is 164,” he said.

Uwalaka said nine micro projects were completed in the education sector, 14 in health, 11 in water, 31 in rural electrification, 11 in transportation, 25 in socio-economic and five in environment.

He listed building of classroom blocks, health centres, construction of boreholes, town halls and market stalls as some of the projects undertaken by the communities under the supervision of the agency.

The manager further said that a recent project outcome study conducted in participating communities showed a 35 per cent reduction in the average distance to health centres.

“Attendance to ante-natal and post-natal clinics increased by 95 per cent from 215 to 420 attendance while access to immunisation service has also increased by 318 per cent from 1,019 to 4,825.

“Number of vehicles plying rehabilitated roads increased by 33 per cent per week.

“Travel time on rehabilitated roads reduced by 38 per cent thus reducing the cost of transportation by 42 per cent in the communities of our intervention,’’ he said.

Uwalaka said that not less than 7,304 square metres erosion and flood sites had been reclaimed in two local government areas through the programme.

Meanwhile, Uwalaka said that the communities affected by erosion in Ahiazu Mbaise and Ideato South Local Government Areas had approached the agency for assistance.

He mentioned Otulu Ahiara and Umuaghobe as some of the communities where the land reclamation took place.

“Land in these communities have been reclaimed and protected from erosion and flood through our communities’ efforts.

“The number of households connected to public power supply increased from 1,356 to 5,725, while the number of small scale businesses increased from 51 to 129, an increase of 153 per cent,” he said.

The General manager, however, listed the challenges of the agency to include inadequate funds to intervene in more communities which have indicated interest in the programme.

Another was the delay by the state government in paying its annual counterpart funding for the programme, which hindered resource availability.

He also mentioned the absence of a governing board to enhance linkage between the agency and the state government.