The second phase of South Korean Government-funded project under the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) worth 400,000 U.S. Dollars has been launched in Borno on Wednesday.
The one-year project being implemented by the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) was coming after the first phase of the project worth five million U.S. Dollars, aimed at fostering resilience and provision of basic medical services for women and girls in Borno, which lasted five years.
The Borno Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Alhaji Babagana Mallumbe, said during the project launch in Maiduguri that the second phase is expected to bridge the gaps in returnee communities through access to quality life-saving integrated sexual reproductive health, among others.
Mallumbe, who lauded KOICA and UNFPA Nigeria for the humanitarian interventions in Borno, called for sustained partnership.
The commissioner called for more assistance and grants to Borno to enable it to tackle the devastating deficits recorded during more than a decade of insurgency in the state.
Borno Commissioner for Budget, Planning, Babagana Mallumbe, flanked by Women Affairs Commissioner, Zuwaira Gambo, at launch of KOICA 2nd phase project.
In her remarks, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zuwaira Gambo, also lauded KOICA and UNFPA Nigeria “for positively impacting the lives of women and children affected by the insurgency.
“Women and children have been the major beneficiaries of these interventions.’’
Gambo cited the ultra-modern fistula centre and the one-stop training centres established under the first phase of the project being attended by women and girls as a major milestone.
She added that under the first phase of the project, women and girls were also provided skills at the training centre and given starter kits to begin businesses of their choice.
She added that “Borno needs more support from donors to attend to more women and girls that escaped from the enclaves of insurgents; the women and girls need psychological support and skills to start life afresh.’’
In their respective remarks, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Baba M. Gana, and Executive Secretary, Borno State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Prof. Mohammed Arab, lauded the impact of the KOICA interventions in the health sector, particularly in reducing maternal mortality.
They commended the Korean agency and UNFPA for the training opportunities given to health workers in the state, adding that the second phase would further strengthen the sector.
Mr Christian Sabum, the Humanitarian Coordinator and Head of UNFPA Maiduguri Office, reiterated the humanitarian organisation’s commitment to zero maternal death and Gender-Based Violence (GBV), among others.
Sabum, who described the second phase of the KOICA intervention as a follow-up, said “KOICA is impressed with the outcome of the first phase of the project and decided to go for a second phase.
“KOICA was impressed after the project evaluation and this current follow-up would serve as a bridge to government ownership of the projects, mostly located in its facilities.
“We thank KOICA for trusting UNFPA and the people of Borno,’’ Sabum said.
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In his remarks, the KOICA Country Director, Mr Sungil Son, expressed satisfaction with the interventions and the impact so far recorded, adding that Borno would continue to get priority attention from KOICA.
Son also lauded UNFPA “for the prudent management of resources for maximum results and the Government of Borno for its vision.
“I hope this is not the end of KOICA’s engagement with UNFPA in Borno,’’ Son said.
Highlight of the occasion included visits to some of the projects executed under the first phase by KOICA country director and other stakeholders. (NAN)
