Writing By Aminu Dalhatu; Editing By Yusuf Zubairu
National Population Commission NPC says it is targeting over two hundred and seventeen thousand unregistered children between the ages of zero to five years in the Zamfara before the end of December this year.
The Federal Commissioner of the NPC in charge of Zamfara State, Muhammad Muttaka Rini announced this at the launching of thr electronic civil registration and vital statistics ECRVS 2024 exercise organised by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in collaboration with the NPC with support from UNICEF in the state.
Mr Muhammad Rini represented by the Director of the NPC, Zamfara State, Danjuma Musa said registration for birth and death was in line with constitutional provision of the commission.
“This aligns with the constitutional responsibility of the Commission as mandated by Act No. 69 of 1992 on Births, Deaths, etc. (Compulsory Registrations), which assigned the function of registering births, deaths, marriages, and divorces to the National Population Commission. This mandate was further reinforced by Section 23 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
He explained that, the statistic generated from vital registration was relevant in their National demographic data needs and analysis that ascertain fertility rate, maternal and child mortality rates, prevailing causes of death and educational advancements.
Mr Muhammad pointed out that, the Commission had trained and engaged 965 volunteers, 247 health workers and 50 staff registrars for the exercise while
He said the officers would be supported and assisted by the 14 local government National Population Commission Comptroller, 6 ICT support officers among others.
Mr Muhammad Muttaka Rini expressed the readiness of the Commission for Collaboration with any agency in it activities and other programs that will benefit the good people of Zamfara State.
While launching the birth registration campaign, the Wife of the Zamfara State governor, Hajiya Huriyya Dauda Lawal pointed out that, the importance of Birth registration cannot be over emphasis;
Hajiya Huriyya disclosed that, birth registration also provides legal and documentary evidence to certify a person’s existence, age, birth place and nationality and it helps to maintain records of births/deaths.
“Most importantly, birth registration is critical for the Nigerian child’s survival, health, education, social services initiatives, and development goals. Birth registration could be simply referred to as the ‘passport to child protection”
The Wife of the Governor noted that, everyone have a role to play to ensure every child in Zamfara is protected and safe from all harm to enjoy their fundamental human right as prescribed in the Zamfara State Child Protection Law 2022.
Hajiya Huriyya Dauda Lawal expressed her determination to support issues that related to the wellbeing of all children in Zamfara State including access to legal identity through the Civic birth registration.
She called on all Stakeholders and parents, caregivers, traditional and religious leaders; communities, and all the people of Zamfara State to ensure all unregistered under-five children are registered during this campaign as well as to continue to supporting and encourage birth registration of all eligible children on a regular, routine basis.
In a remark, the Chief of Field office UNICEF Sokoto, Mr Micheal Juma revealed that, Birth registration is fundamental human right that determines identity and existence of a child to enable the child to enjoy he or her right in the society.
According to him, every child is require to be registered immediately after birth.
Mr Micheal Juma stressed the need for parents to present their children for birth registration and issuing of birth certificate.
He advocated for primary health care centers especially OTP side for nutrition programming and also appropriate school areas for the birth registration and other key places.
According to him, the role of traditional rulers in mobilizing community to bring children forward is key and called on them to support the initiative aimed at ensuring every child in Zamfara State is fully registered.
He emphasized that, birth registration it gives children opportunity to access quality education, health care, water and Sanitation as we as social protection which are critical for child survival.
Earlier, Zamfara State Commissioner for Human Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Nafisa Maradun commended all UNICEF and other stakeholders for their support toward the development of children.
The Director of the National Orientation Agency in Zamfara State, Aminu stated that both the birth registration and issuing of certificate are free and would be Carry out in major designated centers across the state such as hospitals, clinics and Schools among others.
COV)AMINU DALHATU
