ActionAid Nigeria Strengthens Rights Of Children … Commissions Complex for Infanticide

By
ZAINAB TANIMU
-
563
Visit Example Website
ActionAidNigeria Strengthens Rights Of Children
… Commissions Complex for Infanticide
ActionAid Nigeria in pursuance of its dream to abolishing infanticide in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has through its project continue to protect and promote the rights of children in Nigeria.
Its MATAI project funded by the European Union has given new hopes to the survival of infanticide in the society.
The Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria,  Ene Obi, made this known while delivering her speech during the commissioning and the official handing over ceremony of the New Vine Heritage Complex to the officials of Vine Heritage Home (VHH) Abuja.
According to her,
“ActionAid Nigeria is mobilising action towards abolishment of infanticide in FCT.
Since 1996, Vine Heritage Home has been a haven for survivors of infanticide. Based on ActionAid Nigeria’s findings, as of 2019, when we began the Mobilising Actions Towards the Abolition of Infanticide in the FCT (MATAI), a project funded by the European Union (EU),
Fifty-seven FCT communities located in AMAC, Abaji, Kuje, Kwali and Gwagwalada Area Councils were reported to be involved in the practice of infanticide.”
The practice she explained, has well-entrenched beliefs that twins and other multiple-birth babies, children born immediately after twins or those with albinism, down syndrome, cerebral palsy, abnormal teeth growth (upper teeth first) birth defects and babies whose mothers die while nursing them are evil and must be killed.
“This practice is commonly carried out by the Ganagana, Bassa-Komo and Gbariyamma tribes and is ever shrouded in secrecy.
The process of killing these babies involves different methods such as poisoning (with a mixture of deadly plants and herbs), starvation and suffocation.
Speaking on the goal of MATAI project,
Ene said.
“The goal of MATAI project is to contribute to the protection and promotion of rights of children in Nigeria. To achieve this, we ensured the implementation and monitoring of existing legal and policy frameworks that address infanticide practices in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). We also raised awareness in the FCT on infanticide practices, especially among practising communities. We also established mechanisms to safeguard unborn babies and infants susceptible to being victims of infanticide, as well as those that are currently ostracized at the VHH. This is the reason we are here today!
Explaining further,
“Vine Heritage Home (VHH) has been rescuing these children, and 158 of them currently reside at VHH in Kuje, Abuja. Following the assessment that the current living space is not conducive for the children and their caregivers, ActionAid Nigeria, with funding from the European Union and support from a few corporates and individuals, built this new Complex for the benefit of the children; to enhance hygiene, proximity to school and better nutrition.
“Compared to the former Home, this new complex consists of a school, dormitory, play area, cottage farm, and washrooms, to mention a few.
ActionAid Nigeria is delighted to officially hand over the New Vine Heritage Complex to the VHH children and their caregivers today. Indeed, the journey of a thousand miles starts in a day, and the journey of constructing this home began on the 6th of February 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic, when the former EU Ambassador visited this site to carry out the ground-breaking ceremony to flag off the construction of the complex.
With regards to the challenges, the Country Director explained.
“The building was completed within 2 years regardless of the pandemic and its after-effects which include inflation that heightened the prices of construction materials, to mention a few. During the construction, the other challenges we faced were security concerns in the hinterlands and accessibility to the site and project communities during the rainy season. Through it all, we surmounted the challenges, and we are delighted that our VHH children now have a better place to live.
Recounting other achievements,
“Asides from the building, we also made other giant strides during the implementation of the MATAI project. These include the set-up, training and strengthening of child protection structure at the community and LGA levels to handle issues bordering on the welfare of children; a mechanism for safeguarding children in the communities and those currently ostracised at VHH was also created by raising awareness on the availability of legal instruments that promote the rights of children.
“Social development officers from the 5 focal area councils were trained on the enforcement of the existing laws, case management and the projection of the voices of the VHH children through the participation of 4 of them at the FCT Children Parliament.
All these we did in partnership with part funding from the European Union, donations from organisations like AIICO Insurance, Tangerine Africa and other individual donors.
“ActionAid is working with various ministries, departments and agencies like the National Human Rights Commission, NAPTIP, Nigeria Police, Ministry of Women Affairs, National Orientation Agency to abolish these practices in the communities.”
ActionAidNigeria in its appeal is calling on the government, cooperate organizations and individuals to assist the Vine Heritage Home in its bid to securing better future for these children.
“We want to use this medium to call on Nigerians, governments, corporates, and individuals to support the Vine Heritage Home with food and non-food items such as furniture, beddings, learning aids, clothing, sanitary pads, footwear, and more importantly, the building of the residence of the visioners behind the dormitory here. The apartment will also accommodate
 infants brought to the VHH. It is part of the second phase of this complex– to mention a few. She stressed.
To donate, please visit www.actionaid-ngr.org or via bank transfer to GTBank 0216379681 or call 07007070700
See also  Gov. Idris names 3 New District Heads in Gwandu and Argungu Emirates
Visit Example Website

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR