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UNICEF lauds Sylva on maternal,child welfare
Newsdiaryonline Mon July 18,2011
The United Nations International Children Education Fund
(UNICEF) has commended the Bayelsa State Government for its
commitment to the delivery of best results for the survival,
development and protection of children in the state. The UNICEF
Chief of Field Office, Enugu, Mr. Charles Nzuki gave the
commendation while speaking at the signing of the 2011 Programme
Implementation Agreement (PIA) between UNICEF and the state
government. While reviewing the progress made by the state in
the implementation of the 2010 agreement, the UNICEF Chief of
Field Office lauded the state government for the improvement in
the coverage of routine immunization from 79 per cent in 2009 to
91 per cent in 2010, pointing out that it has placed Bayelsa in
the national immunization map as one of the best performing
states in 2010.
The state government was also praised for the progress it is
making in the area of infrastructural development and investment
in basic social services sector; for starting the sector plan
development process especially in basic education and the
capacity development of 32 local government area Programme
Officers involved in immunization. Other areas where the UNICEF
commended the state government include the scaling down of
severe diarrhea since 2009 and the following up in water
sanitation and hygiene intervention plans.
The UNICEF Chief however, called on the state government to
improve on access to early education, provide funds for the
establishment of a State Bureau of Statistics to strengthen
evidence generation, planning and budgeting.
Nzuki, who noted that
pneumonia, diarrhea and malaria, which are some of the greatest
child killer diseases, are all preventable, urged the government
to intensify
campaigns in the areas of hand-washing and promotion of hygienic
practices. He further called on stakeholders to scale up
awareness for the prevention and eradication of HIV/AIDS in the
state.
In his response, the State Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva,
assured that government would continue to partner with the
UNICEF in the improvement of maternal and child health in the
state.
He acknowledged the commendation of the UNICEF chief and assured
that the state government would promptly pay its share of the
counter-part funding.
The high-point of the event was the signing of the Programme
Implementation Agreement (PIA). The agreement re-affirms
UNICEF’s commitment to further strengthen the long standing
partnership with the state in its quest for the over-all
development of children in the state.
More Reports from Yenagoa:
Bayelsa youth back from offshore skills acquisition trip
Twenty youths from Bayelsa state who travelled to Thailand to
acquire training in fashion design and dress-making have
completed their training and returned to Yenagoa, the state
capital.
Speaking
at a brief reception at the Government House, Yenagoa, Governor
Timipre Sylva said he was not only gratified that they all
returned safely, but that they successfully completed their
programme in record time. Sylva assured that government would do
everything to ensure that the training the youths acquired would
be beneficial to the people of the state. He said one way to
absorb the 20 dress making and fashion design graduates would be
to establish a garment industry in the state. The governor
advised them to be creative and to strive to make a name for
themselves.
Director-General of the State Micro-Credit Administration
Agency, Mr. Thom Owugha, revealed that the original intention
was to train 10 of the youths in fashion designing and the other
10 in dress making but that at the end, all 20 of them received
training in both fashion design and dress making.
He explained that despite cultural and language barriers the
youths under-took a third specialized course in modelling,
make-up artistry, personality development, social manner and art
of communication and successfully completed all three courses
within record time.Owugha said, with the training the youths
have acquired, they are adequately prepared for any challenge in
the areas of fashion design and dress making.
The Director-General said the youths were carefully selected by
a committee comprising fashion designers and staff of his
agency, adding that all twenty youths with a minimum
qualification of secondary school certificate, have a background
in tailoring. Also speaking, one of the youths, Ms. Binalayefa
Okereke, lauded the governor for the skills acquisition
initiative and pledged that the funds spent on their training
will not be a waste because they are ready to make a name for
themselves and the state.
She said the issue of language was a severe challenge but
expressed gratitude that with the support of the state
government and determination on their part, they were able to
complete three distinct programmes on schedule. The training
programme, facilitated by the Bayelsa State Micro-Credit
Administration Agency, took place at the Kalawin International
Fashion School, Bangkok, Thailand.
...Hyundai set to establish fabrication yard in the state
Communities in the Brass Local Government area in Bayelsa State
have been called upon to provide a harmonious atmosphere for the
establishment of a fabrication yard by Hyundai Heavy Industries
of South Korea. Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva,
made the call in Government House, Yenagoa, during a meeting
with representatives of Okpoama and Odioma communities in the
area.
The governor explained that the meeting was convened to intimate
the communities of the siting of the project and solicited their
support andcooperation towards the realization of the project.
The governor, who noted that the project was a seven billion
dollar investment, underscored the need for them to sustain the
prevailing peace as government would not condone any disruption
when the project commences.
According to Sylva, the project is expected to generate 2000
jobs and would not only be beneficial to the immediate
communities but the state and the country at large.
The governor also noted that upon expansion, the project would
become a ship building yard and create an avenue for sustainable
jobs.
He therefore urged the communities to maintain their peaceful
disposition as the state was in dire need of such investments to
accelerate its socio-economic development.
In his contribution, Chairman of the Okpoama Council of Chiefs,
Chief Amade Obasi, expressed the willingness of the people to
cooperate with the company to ensure the establishment of the
project.
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