The UK Department for International Development (DFID) is investing 64 million pounds in partnership with two NGOs to fight malnutrition among women and children in Zamfara and Jigawa.
DFID would release the funds while Save the Children in Zamfara and Action for Hunger in Jigawa would facilitate the implementation of the programme for five years from 2014.
Alhaji Abubakar Kande, National Programme Manager of Child Development Grant of Save the Children, made this known at the Emir of Tsafe’s palace in Zamfara on Friday.
He said at a sensitisation meeting with members of the pilot community that Tsafe and Anka Local Government Areas had been selected from Zamfara.
Kande also said that three local governments of Gagarawa, Buji and Kirkasama were selected in Jigawa state for the exercise.
He added that 60,000 pregnant women and nursing mothers of children not more than two years, would benefit from the grant and that they would receive N3,500 each month throughout the period of the intervention.
Kande also said that each of the beneficiaries would be given a mobile phone fitted with a SIM card through which the impact of the scheme would be assessed.
He said while the programme was aimed at ensuring cost effective and long term food security, it would also result in improved child nutrition in 60,000 households with an expected 420,000 beneficiaries.
Kande said the meeting was to create awareness on the cash transfer method.
“It is also to solicit the support and cooperation of the royal fathers in the enrolment of the beneficiaries who must residents of the selected areas.’’
The Chairman of Tsafe local government, Alhaji Aliyu Abubakar, pledged readiness to provide necessary support to the Save the Children in order to ensure the success of the programme.
The chairman decried the apathy among pregnant women and nursing mothers in going to health facilities.
He urged traditional rulers to continue to enlighten husbands to encourage their wives to take part in the programme.
The emir of Tsafe, Alhaji Habibu Aliyu, thanked DFID and the NGO for selecting his chiefdom and assured that he would offer the needed support to ensure the success of the programme.
NAN
