FG To Shore Up Cash Transfer Scheme For Victims

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs, Dr Precious Gbeneol, says conditional cash transfer scheme to cushion the effect of flood disaster will be scaled up by the Federal Government.

Gbeneol said this while speaking at the Saint Joseph flood camp in Aguleri, Anambra East Local Government Area.

The Special Assistant, who was on a visit to the state to sympathise with the flood victims, was accompanied by Governor  Peter Obi and members of the state committee on flood.

The MDGs boss also announced that Anambra was one of the states that would benefit from the conditional cash transfer scheme, adding  that the MDGs office would collaborate with the state governor and the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) to mobilise resources.

She said this would serve as a precautionary measure in view of the health hazards that could follow the flooding, pointing out  that her office intended to reach out to more than 56,000 households across the country.

“We also plan to work with other stakeholders in the areas of access to affordable staple food, water and sanitation to ensure that we bring succour to those in need,” she added.

She said that the 2012 conditional cash transfer scheme in Anambra State was in the process of being released, noting that the funds would be utilised for pro-poor interventions in affected areas to mitigate the socio-economic shock the flooding could cause vulnerable households.

Gbeneol, who was visibly moved by the condition of the internally displaced persons in the camp, presented relief materials worth over N7million to the people.

Items donated included 300 bags of rice, disinfectants, 200 cartons of tomatoes and milk, among others.

Gbeneol said that she was also in the state to interact with stakeholders on ownership and protection of MDGs projects, pointing out that the rebuilding of the communities would be the priority of the MDGs.

“Whatever that has happened, God is in control, we are going to provide adequately to cater for the IDPs in this state, especially on health grounds,” she said.

Responding, the governor said he was pleased with the visit of the MDGs boss but regretted that food items which used to sell at N500 had now gone up to about N3, 000 because of the flooding.

“It is a thing of joy that we have the MDGs leader in this state, we have a clear articulated strategy in this state and because of the proper planning, things are moving smoothly in Anambra State,” Obi further said.