250 orphans in Delta benefit from health, education programmes
Delta government says no fewer than 250 orphans in the state are currently benefiting from its Orphan and Vulnerable Children’s (OVC) programmes.
The state Commissioner for Women Affairs, Community and Social Development, Chief Betty Efekodha, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Asaba.
Efekodha said that the OVC programmes were in the areas of education, health and nutritional support.
She said that 130 of the students were also enjoying education and health support programmes, sponsored by a Non Governmental Organisation, Global Fund.
The commissioner said further that Global Fund was sponsoring the programme in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Association of Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH).
She said that a steering committee and a technical working group for the implementation of the action plan on OVC were inaugurated in the state in 2011, to ensure the success of the programme.
Efekodha commended Delta Assembly for passing the Child’s Right Bill, and Gov. Emmanuel Uduaghan for signing it into law, adding that the act was a landmark achievement of her ministry.
The commissioner said that Delta was among the 24 states of the federation that had passed and promulgated the Child’s Right Act.
She said efforts were being made to ensure full implementation of the provisions of the law, adding that some family courts had been established across the state, for trial of violators
She said further that the ministry recently introduced the Children Creativity programme in schools, to inculcate various skills in the pupils early.
According to her, no fewer than 100 children were participating in the pilot programme which would afford them the opportunity to acquire skills in cookery, painting and computer application.