By; IACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
The Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen has commended the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for the tremendous support that it gave to the Mnistry of Women Affairs helping to proffer solutions on how to collate data of Orphans and Vulnerable Children ( OVC).
Mrs.Tallen who was speaking at the commissioning of Orphans and Vulnerable Children Database Situation Room which was held at Federal Secretariat Building on Tuesday, 30 November 2021.
She said that since 2005, it was difficult for the Ministry to gather data on orphans and vulnerable people across the country.
According to the minister,
“USAID approached the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and proffered a solution by introducing the National Management Information System (NOMIS) which transformed Ophans and Vulnarable Children data situation in the Country
“The result of these efforts has
brought us thus far to this historic event of a repositioned OVC situation room where real time data can be obtained with ease”, Tallen said.
Based on the actions of USAID, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs presented an Award of Excellence to USAID Mission in Nigeria
“This award is presented in recognition of this laudable initiative to improve the wellbeing and livelihood of Nigerian women, children and vulnerable groups through data generation and management and for helping us to achieve our mandate”, the Minister added.
Responding, Dr. Anne E. Patterson, the Director of USID in Nigeria revealed that USAID has invested $10•8 million annually to assist orphans and Vulnarable Children in Nigeria. She further revealed that the USAID in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and other diplomatic partners provided essential, nonessential and social services to over 456,000 vulnerable children and their caregivers. This also includes about 13000 children living with HIV/AIDS.
She also said that her Organization is working in tandem the Women Affairs to help mitigate the plight of people living with HIV while working with caregivers to help strengthen the economic resilience of Nigerians.
Dr. Patterson further urged the Ministry to collaborate with her Organization and United States in order to fight gender based violence.
The Country Director futher expressed her gratitude and joy for being conferred with an award by the Ministry of Women Affairs.
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