Ahead 2015 target date, FCTA moves to meet MDGs

[TGD]

 AS Nigeria joins other countries worldwide towards actualizing the  Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the Federal Capital  Territory Administration (FCTA) is poised meet thethe target  before its 2015  target date.

The United Nations (UN) and their partners worldwide will today observe the 1000 day mark to the 2015 target date for the MDGs. This marks a further 1000 day to accelerate action on issues such as hunger, access to education, improved sanitation, maternal health and gender equality.

To show its commitment towards the achievement of the set goals, the FCTA reviewed its scorecard and expressed its determination to meet the target. Its decision is contained in a statement it issued yesterday.

According to the statement , the agency in 2008 conducted a MDG baseline survey to ascertain the level of infrastructure especially in the rural area for planning and intervention purposes.

"The survey revealed that over 70percent  of FCT residents earn below fifty thousand naira per annum and they are mostly farmers at subsistence level", the agency said, adding that to address some of the issues identified in the survey, the FCT MDGs Office came up with a strategy known as the Community Empowerment Agricultural Initiative whereby FCT MDGs partnered with co-operative  groups to open up 234 community farms of about 2,340 hectares in the six Area Councils and now over 24,000 rural farmers have been empowered and engaged in profitable farming enterprise.

"15 John Deere tractors and 75 motor cycles for extension workers were procured and distributed along with 31 trucks of fertilizer to the 234 communities participating in Community Empowerment Agricultural Initiative. Seeds, pesticides, wheelbarrows, weighing scales and sprayers were also distributed free of charge to participating communities.

"This initiative has increased crop production from 86 tonnes in 2009 to 640 tonnes in 2012 which has resulted in an increased income for the participating farmers. The Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) is also taking care of Goal 1 of the MDGs.

Its a scheme whereby cash is transferred to poor households as monthly grants for a period of one year on the condition that they invest in human capital development by sending their children to school and also access healthcare facilities provided by government.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Beneficiaries of the scheme are selected based on their needs.  The scheme has already taken off in 65 communities in the FCT with over 900 families reached, including more than 2500 children of school age now regularly attending school.

"To achieve universal primary education, which is Goal 2 of the MDGs, 585 Classrooms have been constructed for both primary and Junior secondary schools in the FCT to accommodate 23,400 pupils. 21 Classrooms were rehabilitated. 598 sets of classroom furniture were provided to these schools and 1,680 classmate PCs were supplied to 14 Junior secondary schools", the agency said.

According to FCDA, towards achieving Goal 3 of the MDGs which is to promote gender equality and empower women, the FCT MDGs Office in collaboration with three  micro-finance banks provided soft loans to 1000 women and youths. Also, 1,123 women were trained in different skills, to make them self-reliant and encourage entrepreneurship.

It stated further: "To fast-track the achievement of goals 4, 5 and 6, which are to reduce child mortality, improve maternal health, combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, 350,000 Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets have been distributed to households across the six Area Councils in the FCT.

"30 fully equipped Primary Healthcare Clinics have been constructed and provided with medical personnel. These clinics have attended to over 230 deliveries, 12,000 immunizations and over 9000 cases of tropical diseases including Malaria. 1500 doses of Anti-malarial drugs have been distributed free of charge in rural communities where sensitization activities are regularly carried out".

According to FCTA, the Federal Ministry of Health adjudged the Mailafiya Mobile Health Delivery programme the "Best Rural Health Practice" in 2011. "This unique rural health initiative has been recognized and lauded by the 53rd National Council on Health, Intel Corporation Worldwide, World Congress on Information Technology 2010 in the Netherlands and was admitted for presentation at the International Conference on ICT for Health in South Africa last September", it said, adding that Mailafiya has seen and treated over 75,000 patients so far.

Also, the pilot Community Based Health Insurance Scheme in the Federal Capital Territory is now leveraging on the successes of Mailafiya in most of the communities. Presently 60 communities are on the first phase of the pilot scheme, with over 8000 enrollees including dependants and extra dependants.

The agency further stated that ensuring environmental sustainability and developing a global partnership for development, which are goals 7 and 8 of the MDGs, have been enjoying attention from the FCT MDGs Office. "FCT-MDGs is partnering with Intel Corporation and Microsoft Corporation to support the FCT in bringing rural youths up to speed with global information technology practices and infrastructure development to support FCT MDGs projects and initiatives.

"A shining example of what partnership can achieve in rural areas is the provision of a Comprehensive Mini Water Supply Scheme for Abaji and environs through a tripartite arrangement between FCT-MDGs, FCT Water board and Abaji Area Council. This project will bring water to over 20,000 people who have been relying on water from the river for over 100 years.

"434 solar powered water supply schemes have been provided in different communities across the 6 Area Councils along with 228 comprehensive solar powered water supply schemes, 423 primary school toilets were also constructed to promote a healthier school environment and encourage good hygiene.



The Guardian