UNFPA Distributes ‘Dignity, Mama kits’ To Women In Sokoto
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has distributed ‘Dignity and Mama kits’ to 200 women in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camps in Goronyo and Rabah Local Government Areas of Sokoto State.
The beneficiaries also include adolescent girls in Goronyo and Gandi IDP Camps in the two LGAs.
Inaugurating the distribution on Saturday, Ms Loide Amkongo, the UNFPA Head of Kaduna Sub-Office, commended government’s commitment towards supporting vulnerable women across the state.
Amkongo assured the beneficiaries of more engagements by UNFPA to ease their sufferings and complement their needs.
She therefore urged them to utilise the items in supporting thier wellbeing.
She said women and girls are the most vulnerable when it comes to humanitarian crises by undergoing traumas that include forced abduction, forced marriage, emotional, sexual and physical violence.
She noted that some of the pregnant women trapped in crises do not know where to obtain maternal and other reproductive health services.
According to her, UNFPA will continue to provide psycho-social supports, counselling, medical care, shelter, skill acquisition trainings and development for them.
In her address, Hajiya A’isha Dantsoho, the Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, said the kits are meant for pregnant women.
Dantsoho said the Mama kits contain antenatal materials such as soaps, pads, slippers, under wears, children’s wears and others needed for support in safe delivery.
She said the dignity kits are for adolescents girls which contains pieces of sanitary napkins, underwear, socks, washing power, gel shampoo, tooth paste, tooth brush, towel and others needed for hygienic upkeep of growing girls.
She added that sewing machines were also donated to the best four women undergoing skill acquisition trainings in the camps as an encouragement for self- reliance and productive engagements.
Dantsoho congratulated the beneficiaries, while thanking UNFPA for its sustained support and generosity to the needy in the state.
“This is a generous gesture which will immensely add more value to our commitment towards ensuring the healthier generation we desire,” she said.
Earlier, the representative of Wife of Sokoto State Governor, Hajia Nana Yakubu, expressed appreciation over the gesture.
She urged the beneficiaries to utilise the items properly and adhere to guidelines on hygiene, ante-natal and post-natal cares.
Also speaking, Special Adviser to Gov. Ahmad Aliyu on Resident Communities and IDPs, Hajia Maryam Suleiman, assured that the state government would continue to remain closer to UNFPA and others to sustain more support for the vulnerable.
Some of the beneficiaries, A’isha Rabiu, Shamsiyya Halilu, Rafa’ati Salisu, Jamila Lawwali and Hauwa’u Bashiru expressed happiness over the gesture which they said would supports their lives.
