NPC, UNICEF AND EU FLAGS OFF MASSIVE BIRTH REGISTRATION CAMPAIGN IN ADAMAWA.

To address the low birth registrations statistics, the National Population Commission,(NPoPC) in conjunction with United Nations Children’s Funds(UNUCEF)and European Union(EU) have flagged off massive birth registration campaign  in Adamawa state.

Speaking at the occasion, Chief of Field Office,UNICEF Nigeria,Bauchi Field office,Mr. Abdulai Kaikai said that available statistics have shown Adamawa state as the lowest state in the country in birth registration of children noting that it was not a good grade for the
state which informed the move to change the scenario.

According to him, integrating birth registration with the health care delivery system is the practical approach in which UNICEF, NPoPC, Adamawa state Ministry of Health and the state Primary Health Care Development Agency are collaborating to ensure an increased and sustained birth registration coverage in Adamawa.

Kaikai said as part of the collaboration,UNICEF has trained over 300 health workers in various health facilities across the state on birth registration so that the exercise can attain appreciable level and to
build partnerships for integrating birth registration services in to educational service delivery in the state as well.

He therefore urged stakeholders to support the project noting that, with the support all unregistered children in Adamawa will be registered and obtain the birth registration certificate issued by the NPoPC to ensure every child has an identity as a Nigerian.

Flagging off the exercise, Governor Muhammadu Umaru Jibrilla said that the daily registration of children is indeed very essential as it provides data needed for population estimation, projection and other
analytical studies useful for all demographic planning and research in the state and the nation at large.

Jibrilla who was represented by the commissioner of Health,Dr.Fatima Atiku Abubakar reiterated the commitment of the state government in
achieving the desired goal calling on citizens especially parents,traditional rulers as well as key stake holders in the state to support the exercise

Earlier, while delivering his welcome address at the occasion,Federal Commissioner of the NPoPC in charge of Adamawa state Town Planner.
David Garnvwa commended the efforts of the two  foreign bodies (UNICEF&EU) saying that civic registration is a continuous, permanent
and compulsory recording of the occurrence and characteristic of vital events, such as birth, death, stillbirth, marriege e.t.c.

According to him, it is the right of  every child to be registered without any discrimination as specified in Article 7 of the Convention on the Right of the child.

“The National demographic and Health survey (NDHS) of 2013 showed the birth registration rate in Adamawa state for children under 5years is the lowest in the North East Region.And by 2015,only 17%of under  one
and 4% of under 5years registered.”He added

He stated that,the Flag off marks the beginning of a 7day massive birth registration in all the  226 wards of the 21Local Government Areas in the state to give the children their right to existence and
identity.