Edo State Commissioner for Youth and Gender Issues, Hon. Andrew Adaze Emwanta Esq. JP has called on rural women across the state to join the movement against gender-based violence which violates the right to dignity of the human person.
The Commissioner in a goodwill message to commemorate the international day of rural women 2022 stated that no right under our Constitution is more fundamental than the right to the dignity of human person.
According to him, the Obaseki-led Administration remains committed to improving the general well-being of all Edo people, including our rural women, adding that the ongoing reforms of the primary care sector, which seeks to bring health care closer to rural dwellers, the massive construction of roads in rural communities, the creation of new towns from hitherto rural communities have in no small measure helped in reducing the socio-economic difficulties of the average rural woman in Edo State.
“The Edo State Government in furtherance of the Economic Revolution pillar of the MEGA manifesto instituted the Edo State Oil Palm Programme (ESOPP).
“Through the ESOPP intervention, over 40 rural communities in Edo State have hosted major investors in the area of large-scale commercial oil palm cultivation and processing. The list of beneficiaries of the value chain of this particular intervention, include our ever-enterprising rural women, whose services have been retained and their capacity rebuilt under the local content initiative of ESOPP,” he added.
The Commissioner noted that the Edo State Government within the last one year under the N-Cares programme has trained and empowered rural dwellers, including women across ten Local Government Areas in poultry and catfish farming, cassava and rice cultivation.
“The Edo State Ministry of Health has increased its sensitization activities for rural women of reproductive health age, including conduct of in-reaches and out-reaches on family planning services, free of charge. This has helped greatly in reducing maternal morbidity and mortality. Also, the Ministry has provided mama kits for delivery, in order to reduce the out-of-pocket expenses of those receiving ante-natal care. In order to boost their capacity, in August 2022, 25 Family planning providers were trained across various Local Government Areas of the State.
“Today, as the world celebrates the international day of Rural Women, on behalf of the Executive Governor, His Excellency Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki and Government of Edo State, l specially salutes all rural women across the 18 Local Government Areas of our dear State.
“The theme for this year “Rural women rise and claim your basic right to sustainable development” is very apt for two reasons. First, it resonates with the giant strides the present Edo State Government has made in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals programme in favour of all Edo residents. Second, it offers us another opportunity to tell the story of the dividends, which the impact of our social interventions has brought to our rural communities in the State,” he added.
The Commissioner also commended the First Lady of Edo State, Her Excellency, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki who in her capacity as the Chairperson of the Edo State Gender Based Violence Management Committee has championed the cause of victims of Gender Based Violence, majority of whom are of the female gender
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