United States Embassy empowers girls in Kogi State

Intervention for vulnerable girls in rural communities dominated proceedings in Lokoja, Kogi State yesterday when the United States Embassy in Nigeria through its funding partner, Centre for Integrated Health Program (CHIP) gathered young girls to distribute empowerment tools for their self-actualization.

Chief Executive Officer of the centre, Dr. Bola Oyeledun, said CHIP was implementing a holistic child-focused; family-centered orphans and vulnerable children program aimed at mitigating the negative impacts of HIV/AIDS on children and their families, and ensure that children are safe, healthy, schooled and stabled.

‘’With package for education support, psychological support, health and nutrition, child protection, legal protection, household economic strengthening and adolescent girls, incidences of HIV infections are significantly reduced amongst vulnerable children,’’ he stated

She added that the center ensured that older vulnerable children are well equipped for self-sustenance, through the provision of vocational/skills training and support with start-up grants and equipment after six months of vigorous vocational and education training.

Speaking on behalf of Kogi State government, Mrs. Bolalane Amupitan, the Commissioner for Women, Youth and Social Development, appreciated the people and government of the United States of America who made the interventions possible.

Chief of Mission to Nigeria, who represented the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms. Nancy Lowenthal, pledged U.S. continued support for Kogi given the state’s strategic placement in Nigeria as a nexus of convergence between the south and the northern part of the country.

To ensure sustainability, CIHP provided technical assistance to Kogi State Ministry of Health through on-site clinical systems mentoring and supportive supervision, training about 500 healthcare workers on HIV management, clinical systems mentorship and project management.