FIRST ANNIVERSARY: We're Galvanizing Internal, External Support To Bring Succour To Less Privileged In C'River, Says Hummanitarian Commissioner, Dr. Egodo
Hannah ARIKPO
At the helm of affairs at the ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation is Dr.Mrs. Helen Isamuo Egodo,.
She was sworn in together with other commissions on August, 16, 2024 into the State Executive Council of Cross River state by His Excellency, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu.
The ministry among other things is saddled with the responsibility of handling humanitarian interventions ranging from internally displaced persons (IDPs), destitute, the needy, Persons Living With Disabilities (PLWs), social works to demonstrate the human face of the present administration.
On assumption of duty, the Commissioner led an official delegating on a familiarisation tour of social welfare departments across the state to ascertain areas of need and prompt action.
Committed to delivering on her mandate, the Commissioner galvanised internal and external support from the mother ministry at the national level and international donor agencies to meet up with the onerous task of bringing succour to the less privileged in the society.
So far we have undertaken social transfer of N10,000 each to 17,138 00 poor and vulnerable house holds between August, 2023 - 2024, under the state government NG- CARES programme.
It has distributed of relief materials worth over N35m to internally displaced persons ( IDPs) at the border town of Belegete in Obanliku local government area after an invasion of the Cameroonian Ambazoninans in March, 2024.
We have forged mutual collaboration and partnership in the delivery of government assistance with advocacy visits to paramilitary agencies like the Nigerian correctional service, Nigeria Immigration service, the Nigerian Police. In the words of the Commissioner, "we need these agencies in view of the nature of our work, sometimes we need to take destitute off the streets of Calabar."
The ministry has also coordinated the distribution of palliatives among the 3 IDP camps at Ogoja local government area.
On its social welfare side, the ministry has rescued a year-old baby dumped in a drainage at Satellite Town in Calabar municipality; relocation of a mentally impaired mother of a new born baby at the government orphanage home for the safety and to avoid risk of the baby being stolen; providing financial support and recovery of a family of 4 which suffered a third degree burn from a gas explosion along Egerton road, Calabar. We also discovered and relocated a 62 year old Akpabuyo-born 1981 Olympia Gold Medalist from Aja, Lagos State to Cross River as well as settlement of medical bills of Cross Riverians under emergency condition at different health facilities, including the Neuro Psychiatry Hospital, Calabar.
Currently, the ministry is working on a policy document to guide operations of humanitarian efforts of both government and development partners, CSOs, and NGOs in realisation to targeted goals for the well-being of the citizenry.
Other ongoing projects are, a talent - hunt programme for street children at the Lemna dump site, assessment and recommendations to settle yam barn fire incident victims in Bebiabong, Obudu local government area.
