The Kwara State Government will today (Thursday), commence the engagement of the first batch of 1,210 beneficiaries of the World Bank assisted Public Work Fare (PWF) Component of the Youth Employment and Social Support Operations (YESSO).
This was made known in a statement issued yesterday by the Head of the State Public Workfare Unit, Aregbe S.O.
According to him, the commencement of the programme follows the approval by Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed.
Aregbe said the PWF component of the YESSO programme is targeted at providing immediate labour intensive work opportunities for unskilled youths from poor households, and improve their living standard, as beneficiaries will be paid monthly stipends.
He said the participating youths are between the ages of 18 and 35 and with less than JSS 3 education.
Aregbe added that the beneficiaries would as from today be deployed to their respective worksite, which he said, will be within their immediate communities. This, he said, is to ensure that the beneficiaries who will work on part time basis will not have to expend their monthly stipend.
According to him, the 1,210 first batch beneficiaries were selected from the register of poor and vulnerable households in 153 communities across the six pilot local government areas, which include Asa, Ilorin West, Kaiama, Moro, Ifelodun and Isin.He disclosed that the beneficiaries will receive a monthly stipend of N7,500 and that the payment will be made directly into their individual bank accounts, which have been opened for them during the orientation programme. Aregbe added that both the state and local governments would be responsible for procurement of tools for the beneficiaries.
He further explained that based on the design of the programme, payment of stipends to beneficiaries will be co-funded by the state government and the World Bank, with the government advancing the initial 100 per cent payment and that the World Bank will make a quarterly reimbursement of 90 per cent to the government.
The Public Workfare Unit Head also revealed that another 4,704 beneficiaries have been selected for the second and third round from the register of poor and vulnerable households in the state and would be deployed to their various worksites in the second quarter of the year.
He stressed that the selection of beneficiaries was done using the procedures and guidelines of the World Bank.
…calls for partnership on healthcare delivery system
By Bukola Adama
Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed has called on philanthropists and organisations to partner with government at all levels to ensure effective healthcare delivery system.
Ahmed made the call yesterday while receiving the Founder of LEAH Charity Foundation and first lady of Kwara State, Mrs Omolewa Ahmed during a courtesy call at the Government House, Ilorin.
Governor Ahmed who said health care delivery is broad and cannot be handled alone by government commended the foundation for its support to the health sector in the state.
He lamented that Nigeria like many countries in Africa has not been able to improve on its life expectancy like the developed world due to challenges in the health sector.
He added that one of the best ways to eradicate diseases in Africa is by prevention which can only be achieved through immunisation even as he expressed readiness to support the state primary healthcare development agency in its task of providing preventive medical support to the people .
Governor Ahmed also assured support on the call for the institutionalisation of primary healthcare in the state.
Earlier, Mrs Ahmed commended the state government for its various efforts in the health sector while also appealing for the introduction of HPV vaccination in immunisation exercise. She added that the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends HPV vaccination for boys and girls.
She lamented the alarming increase in breast and cervical cancer and appealed for the inclusion of its screening in the state health insurance scheme.
The first lady who expressed worry over low turnout during immunisation exercises urged the governor to personally launch the exercise coming up in the state to assure citizens of its safety and importance.
She hinted the governor of a women summit coming up in the second quota of the year scheduled for Ilorin, the state capital, with the theme: ‘Mother and child, towards a healthier tomorrow’ just as she solicited the support of the state government for a successful hosting.
Representatives of WHO, UNICEF, and the Primary Healthcare Development Agency who were in the entourage of the LEAH commended the governor for creating an enabling environment for international agencies to partner with the state.
They enjoined the governor to ensure the involvement of all local government chairmen in the implementation of immunisation exercise coming up soon.
