Red Cross empowered 2,000 rural women, recruited 225 volunteers to fight hunger in Zamfara

From A A. Chakwa, Gusau

The Nigeria Red Cross Society launched the distribution of farming tools and seedlings to 2000 rural women in its efforts to fight for hunger in Zamfara state.

The Secretary of the Zamfara State Red Cross Society Comrade Ibrahim Bello said the program is aimed at strengthening food security and resilience through nutrition livelihoods and climate changes adaptation in the state.

“The program is a collaboration effort of the Nigerian Red Cross Society With the Support of Czech Aid from Czech Republic and is a pilot program which might continue in Sokoto, Katsina, Kaduna and Niger. Ibrahim said.

Ibrahim Bello also said, the Nigerian Red Cross Society employed 225 volunteers in four Local Government Areas of the state for door to door assistance to malnourished children.

“We provided weekly quantity of local turn brown to all identified malnourished children that are not severely effected while those that are severely affected were referred to OTP in designated Hospitals and Primary Healthcare centers for adequate treatment. Ibrahim stated.

The state Secretary of the Nigerian Red Cross Society further said, they also trained women on skills acquisition, hygiene, environmental sanitation and exclusive breastfeeding.

“We have commenced the second phase of the program which is on disaster risk reduction management, home farming for women and we will come back in the next three months to supervise them. The secretary said.

Speaking earlier, the Zamfara State first lady Hajiya Hurriya Dauda Lawal and Commissioner for Agriculture all represented by Aliyu Umar Kaura Director Fisheries and horticulture urged the beneficiaries to utilize the gesture and also assures them the commitment of the state Government in empowering women.

“Governor Dauda Lawal obtained a new brand seed of date that can be planted in the House and rape with three years and we will give Red Cross Society their own to distribute it for women. Aliyu promised.

The District Head Uban doman Wanke Rabi’u Usman Mayana applauded the efforts of the Red Cross Society for the intervention and their humanitarian services.