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‘Birth Registration Recognises Child As Entity, Not Just Statistic’
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has emphasised the importance of birth registration, saying it identifies a child as an entity, not just a statistic.
The UNICEF Country Representative to Nigeria, Mr Peter Hawkins, said this, yesterday, in Abuja, when he featured on the special flagship News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum.
The Multi-Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS 6) 2021 inaugurated in August revealed that 57per cent of Nigerian children under the age of five years had their births registered with civil authorities in 2021.
This, according to the survey, was an increase of 10per cent from what it was in 2016.
MICS is a household survey developed by UNICEF to assist countries in filling data gaps for monitoring human development indicators in general, and the situation of children and women in particular.
It has evolved over the years to respond to changing data needs, expanding from 28 indicators in the first round in 1999 to 200 in its current sixth edition.
Implemented by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), MICS provides data on child mortality, health, nutrition, education, child and social protection, women’s healthcare and empowerment, among others.
The UNICEF country representative, therefore, said that apart from giving a child an identity, birth registration also has an impact on the economy, health and education sectors of a nation.
He said, “I think it has an impact on all three, but fundamentally, it is the impact about the child being recognised by the state that they exist, their unique identity so that they know that they are there.
“Not just a statistic that a child was born, and then died, and that’s it.
“It allows the state or it puts the burden on the state to recognise them as an entity within their domain, and that they have the responsibility to provide that child with the services required to grow.
“So, if you want to know, from birth, that they exist, then it’s about survival in the first six months, and then, it’s about immunisation, then, it’s about going to school, and then, it’s about receiving the protection that the state has a responsibility to provide that child with.”
On the 2021 MICS 6, Hawkins said it was a very significant report, adding that it gives an indication of women and children in post COVID-19 pandemic, and allows for comparison with what the situation was in 2016 and 2018.
He said, “I think many of the indicators have increased in a margin of around 10per cent, for most of the indicators show the evolution that has taken place in Nigeria over a 20, 30 year period; service delivery at the state level showed progress.
“What is worrying about the progress that has been made is a differentiation state by state; some states’ progress is very, very low and very weak; other states showed dramatic improvement over the past 20 years.
“So, it is very different in different parts, but I think one of the things that we can take out of it is there is sustained improvement for many of the indicators that we saw in the MICS.”
He, however, said that to sustain the tempo and record more improvements, accountability should be strengthened, especially by state authorities in delivering services.
He also urged authorities to ensure that financing was commensurate to the population, while the needs of the people were prioritised.
Happy Birthday Chief Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON
Honourable Minister Federal Capital Territory
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We’ll Drive Tinubu’s Vision in Rivers With Vigour – Fubara …Inaugurates Dualized Ahoada/Omoku Road ….Debunks Rift With RSHA
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has stated that he will lead Rivers people to galvanize support for President Bola Tinubu to drive the vision and objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda in the State with vigour.
The governor, who joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), on Tuesday, explained that his decision to join the APC was not for personal interest but for the overall benefit of Rivers State.
Fubara disclosed these while inaugurating the extension of the dualized Ahoada/ Omoku Express road in Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
He commended the contracting firm, Julius Berger, for timely delivery of the project, saying the project is a campaign promise fulfilled which will bring economic benefits to the people and tackle issues of insecurity associated with the route.
He said his administration has remained focused in delivering democratic dividends in the state despite facing glaring challenges.
The governor thanked the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas for their continuous support, and urged his supporters to remain steadfast and also support President Tinubu who he said, has demonstrated love to Rivers State as a father.
Fubara denied having rift with the Rivers State House of Assembly, stating that his meeting with the lawmakers was stalled as a result of delay in the agreed meeting to be convened by former Governor Nyesom Wike and other stakeholders for him to meet with the state lawmakers.
“I have made every effort to meet with the Assembly members, but it is not within my leadership to initiate the meeting process.
“The arrangement was for my leader, Wike, and the elders led by Anabraba to call for a meeting with the the lawmakers.
“I’m a gentleman and principled. I can’t go behind to call them when we’ve already agreed. Whoever that tell them that I don’t want to meet with them, or I rejected proposal meant for them isn’t saying the truth,” Fubara said.
The Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry Works, Mr Austin Ezekiel-Hart, who gave the project description, said the delivery of the project was a fulfillment of long time dream by the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas.
He said the road was previously a single lane and has now been dualised to 14.6 meters wide, complete with solar-powered streetlights with drainages.
He said the road significantly would reduce travel time between Ahoada and Omoku while improving economic activity in the region.
In his welcome address, Chairman of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area, Hon. Chuku Shedrack Ogbogu, described the road as a symbol of unity, oneness, and development, thanking the governor for fulfilling his campaign promises.
On his part, the Managing Director of Julius Berger, Engr. Peer Lusbash, said the project was awarded to his company in 2023 with a completion period of 18 months which was achieved in best quality.
He added that Julius Berger enjoyed a good support from the Fubara administration, and assured to complete all ongoing projects being handled by Julius Berger on specification, especially the Ring Road project which is a legacy project.
Rivers State, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, has reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring good healthcare for the people of Rivers State.
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?Governor Fubara stated this when he played host to the Country Director of UNICEF, Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef and her management team in Port Harcourt, last Tuesday.
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?The governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba, said he would continue to provide the necessary facilities in order to ensure accessible and good health care for all Rivers people.
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?”We are constructing new zonal hospitals across the State. The Ahoada Zonal hospital will be commissioned in December and others are near completion.
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?”We are grateful to UNICEF for all they have done and believe we can always work together to care for the vulnerable in the society. We appreciate your physical presence, and believe that your staff working remotely, can also do more virtually. We have a capable Commissioner of Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, to help foster our relationship, communication and greater collaboration,” he said.
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?The Country Director for UNICEF Nigeria, Ms. Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef, assured Governor Fubara of UNICEF’s support to the programmes of the State Government. She appealed that health facilities such as the Oxygen Plant at Eleme Local Government Ares and the New Born Care Units be solarized.
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?”Be assured that UNICEF will continue to work and support the programmes here in Rivers State. We have seen the Oxygen Plant at Eleme LGA which has been effective because of the Public Private Partnership. We appeal that the plant be solarized.
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?”I commend your leadership of the State and assure that we are here to support your effort and assure you that you can count on our support and partnership. Rivers State is one of the states we can showcase how things are working so others can learn,” she added.
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