Stakeholders Gather in Calabar for National Council of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction

Iloke Egbe 

The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Allocation in collaboration with the Cross River State Government Hold's a 3 day 1st Meeting of the National Council on Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction at Higgins Royale Hotel, State Housing Estate Calabar.

Declaring  the day one open, the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction Mr Olubunmi  Olusanya welcomed delegates and stakeholders invited for the meeting, assuring that the importance of the three days engagement is very critical to the progress of reducing multidimensional poverty in Nigeria. He expressed gratitude to the Cross River State Government, noting that the policies of His Excellency Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu are rooted in poverty reduction.

Mr. Olusanya also expressed excitement on the attendance and timely arrival of invited guests adding that in line with the theme of the event which is Beyond the national, strengthening sub-national and multi-stakeholders synergy for a unified approach to Humanitarian response and Poverty Reduction was carefully selected to emphasize the importance of States in the implementation of poverty reduction programmes.

According to Mr Olusanya, the high point of the first day event is the  planary  sessions for the technical exercise where critical reviews of each report with a clear resolutions reach and will thereafter be submitted to the National Council on Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction for ratification.

In his contributions, the Permanent Secretary, Cross River State Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Mr. Andy Akpotu Adeshi informed that the technical session is a bottom top approach to make the policy a home-made that will truly touch the heart of the challenge and used the occasion to welcome every guest.

Highlights of the event was paper presentation on strengthening Social Protection Systems for sustainable poverty reduction in Nigeria by the National Social Investment Programme Agency. Planary and presentation of reports by the thematic group leaders. In attendance were delegates and stakeholders from line MDAs in Nigeria, International Development Partners, NGOs and Civil Society Organizations while NASSCO Abuja was represented by National Communication Officer Mr. Ifemayowa Makiwa and Mrs Amaka Asiegbu, Admin and Human Resource Manager.

CR. Govt. Present Achievements Report on Schistosomiasis and Soil Transmitted Helminthiasis.

Iloke Egbe 

The Cross River State Ministry of Health through the Department of Public Health, Neglected Tropical Diseases Control Program in collaboration with Evidence Action present 2024 impact assessment report on Schistosomiasis (STH) and Soil Transmitted Helminthiasis  (SCH) carried out in the 18 LGAs of the State.

The one day event held at the conference hall of Essential Drugs Program, Barrack's road Calabar aimed amongst others to update stakeholders on the achievements recorded within the period, opportunities available and the way forward and to elicit feedback from the public.

In a detailed power point presentation, the senior manager Evidence Action Mr. Tochi Ohaji, reflected on the background and baseline souvey which provided evidence from the program evaluation following a 7 years preventive chemotherapy which strongly suggested a significant rate of 48.5% reduction STH infections and 76.6% rate reduction in SCH among school children in the State.

Mr. Ohaji used the opportunity to call for increased sectoral collaboration to drive improvement in WASH across the State to sustain the high quality preventive chemotherapy which has generated greater gains in STH and SCH prevalence.

He recommended treatment strategies for 2026 onward while referencing World Health Organization recommendations in the reduction of prevalence, and stated some approaches appropriate to address Bakassi LGA which is the only LGA with negative indicators.

Adding her voice, the Program Manager, Schistosomiasis and Soil Transmitted Helminthiasis Control and Elimination program in the Department of Public Health, Federal Ministry of Health, Mrs. Imaobong Umah, pointed out that WASH and basic hygiene including behavioral change are essential to maintain results already achieved to avoid reemerges of the ugly past and called for stronger synergies and collaborations amongst Stakeholders.

The presentation outline background, methodology, results and conclusion. Lesson learned and acknowledgement. And featured goodwill messages from critical Stakeholders. In attendance were the State Director, Neglected Tropical Diseases Control Program Pastor Mrs. Veronica Mark, representative of the Commissioner Ministry of Health and that of Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Dr. Jonah Offor represented by the Acting Director Public Health Mr Patrick Odu, Civil Society Organizations and none Governmental Organizations.