Stakeholders dialogue sustainability plan for REACH Project in Gombe
Stakeholders dialogue sustainability plan for REACH Project in Gombe
Stakeholders from Gombe state have begun a two-day workshop in Abuja to review the sustainability plan for Save the Children’s (SCI) Reaching and Empowering Adolescents to make Choices for their Health in Nigeria (REACH) Project in the state.
The project which is expected to end by August and being implemented in Dukku and Balanga Local Government Areas of the state is funded by the Canadian government through Global Affairs Canada and implemented by Save the Children International (SCI) through Kishimi Shelter and Care Foundation (KSCF).
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Briefing stakeholders on the objectives of the workshop on Monday, the Community Engagement and Advocacy Coordinator of SCI, Gombe State Office, Mr Akpan Effiong said the workshop was for policymakers and other actors at the state and LGAs level to chart a way forward for adolescents in the state by initiating innovative ideas on how to sustain the REACH Project.
According to Effiong, part of the review will be to ascertain if there were capacity gaps on any approach of the project and to map out a plan on how to address the gaps.
He added that the workshop was expected to increase awareness in Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH) and age and life skills tool kit and CHOICES approach and its importance to stakeholders.
“Advocate release for selected and REACH activities in all MDAs working with the project and to also identify areas of collaborations between states and LGAs for sustainability.”
Effiong said the workshop would also serve as a good ground for peer review mechanism amongst all stakeholders across Gombe, Katsina and Zamfara states in terms of successful strategies that could be leveraged to enhance the project in the respective states.
In her opening remarks, the REACH Project Director, Rahinatu Adamu, emphasized the need for the sustainability of the project in view of the gains that had been recorded so far in the overall interest of the wellbeing and welfare of children in the state.
Adamu charged the participants to be “open and honest” in their conversations on what they could do bearing in mind that society would depend on children of today in the nearest future.
On her part, the state Project Manager, Ms Altine Lewi said the REACH Project had surpassed its target and more gains and success stories were still being recorded.
According to Lewi, the project had improved access of adolescents to health facilities in the LGAs where it is being implemented as more adolescents now visit health facilities to share and get information about their health and make informed decisions.
She added that such was made possible through the series of engagements with health workers in those facilities to make them receptive and accommodating to adolescents whenever they visited.
In his address, the chairman of the workshop and the state’s Honourable Commissioner of Health, Dr Habu Dahiru reiterated the gains recorded from the REACH Project, stressing the need for sustainability.
Dahiru tasked all participants to actively engage in fruitful deliberations that would benefit the children in the state going forward.
Mrs Grace Samuel, the Executive Director, KSCF attributed gains of the REACH project to the constant support from traditional rulers and religious leaders, “especially the Emir of Dukku, Alhaji Haruna Rashid II who has been very accommodating to us anytime.”
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Highlights of the day’s event include the presentation of the sustainability plans by the chairmen of the Technical Working Group (TWG) in Dukku and Balanga LGAs.
Stakeholders dialogue sustainability plan for REACH Project in Gombe
