UNFPA, EBONYI STATE PARTNER ON SKILLS ACQUISITION FOR VULNERABLE
From Omaka OKOH, ABAKALIKI
THE United Nations Population Funds (UNFPA) and Ebonyi State government are patterning in equiping the Ugwuachara Rehabilitation Centre.
Items donated to the centre include 5 complete set of hair dressing and barbing items with cupboard for the hair dressing section, 10 sewing machines and 6 dummy with cupboard for the tailoring section and set of kitchen utensils including gas cooker, gas cylinder, frying pans, cupboard etc.
Speaking at the official handover of the equipped unit of the Rehabilitation Centre, Ugwuachara, the Hon Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Barr Mrs Felicia Nwankpuma, commended UNFPA for their immense support to the state, especially as it concerns women.
Nwankpuma noted that the unit, which was equipped with state of the art instructional materials, was aimed at supporting the economy and livelihood of women.
She, however, gave the assurance that the ministry would ensure that women, especially GBV Survivors and the indigent, are provided with skills to enable them become economically viable and self reliant thereby contributing to nation building.
Earlier in her remark, the HOD Women Affairs Department, Mrs Roseline Olughu Orji, stated that the centre would be a safe haven for vulnerable individuals to find solace,healing,and empowerment,noting that the centre will offer essential services such as psychosocial counselling and skills acquisition with the aim of rehabilitation ,empowerment, and transformation of the needy.
Also speaking, the UNFPA Head of Cross River sub-office/ program coordinator, Dr Andrew Kirima during the handover of the upgraded Ebonyi State Rehabilitation Centre to the Ministry, said that the United Nations Population Funds (UNFPA) is the United Nations Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Agency working with government and civil society organisations to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potentials is fulfilled and has been committed to the 2030 developmental agenda in ensuring zero preventable maternal death, zero unmet need for family planning, and zero gender based violence and harmful practices, including FGM and child marriage.
According to him, UNFPA had collaborated with the Ebonyi State Government for over 16 years and had invested in various interventions aimed at preventing and responding to survivors of GBV.
Dr.Kirima said that UNFPA supported the Ministry to upgrade and equip the Centre inorder to provide vocational skills to vulnerable women and girls in the State including Survivors of GBV, vesico vaginal fistula as well as women with disabilities so as to improve their economic livelihood, while noting that economically viable women have greater decision making in the home and community which positively impacts their own and family's well-being.
The coordinator of GBV Taskforce, Barr. Faithvin Nwanchor, said the centre which will provide access to economic autonomy, financial empowerment and skills acquisition will also be a safe place for the Survivors.
