Health
THE United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA), has challenged Implementing Partners (IPs) to ensure proper planning so as to meet set targets and enhance execution of the body’s mandate.
Dr Mamadou Kante, UNFPA Deputy Regional Director in Dakar, threw the challenge on Tuesday in Abuja at a mid-year review meeting with the IPs of the outfit’s mandate in Nigeria.
He emphasised the need for IPs to work hard toward meeting key concern targets like ending gender inequality, female genital mutilation and sexual abuse.
Kante also urged them to focus on the need for Nigeria to hold a population census so as to ascertain the nation’s population and its dynamics.
He advised the IPs to always plan ahead, saying that IPs not ready to plan were always sure to fail.
Mr Osaretin Adonri, the UNFPA Assistant Representative in Nigeria, said that results must be measurable so as to determine the value of monies spent.
“We have a mandate. We must be able to prevent every preventable death. Women should also have children only when they want to have and after weighing their economic options.
“Young people must also have a choice in sexual and reproductive care. This means that we must involve them in all issues that cincern them so as to maximise the impact,” he said.
Adonri urged the IPs to do more toward making Nigerian authorities see the need to have a census so as to enable stakeholders know the demographic structure of the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that some IPs later presented their reports for the period under review (January to June, 2019), with Mr Suleiman Tola, UNFPA Coordinator in NAN, presenting the agency’s achievements.
Tola, in the paper, said that the agency had surpassed expectations for the period under review and had achieved much even when funds were still being awaited.
“Aside robust media coverage, we have sent bulk SMS and used the NAN platform to cover the activities of other IPs so as to build a vast network.
“We have also raved up public awareness on the issues, especially population control, genital mutilation, sexual abuse and harmful traditional and cultural practices,” he said.
He, however, called for more funding and the timely invitation of the agency’s reporters to activities of UNFPA and other stakeholders.
Tola also called for more technical intervention to give NAN the technical impetus to carry out massive communication on the activities and mandate of UNFPA.
NAN reports that Tola’s presentation received a loud ovation with Adonrin commending NAN’s “deep and exemplary” commitment to UNFPA’s mandate.
“NAN has mainstreamed our work in their own work. NAN has totally mainstreamed UNFPA’s activities. This is a good practice.
“The mainstreaming is so seamless that one keeps wondering if it is UNFPA work or Federal Government or NAN work. It is the ultimate in partnership,” he said.
NAN reports that the five-day meeting will end on Sept. 6. (NAN)
– Sept. 3, 2019 @ 17:26 GMT |
Tags: meeting targets UNFPA tasks implementing partners on proper planning
