Strengthen 100 Vulnerable Households in Calabar

STRENGTHEN 100 VULNERABLE HOUSEHOLDS IN CALABAR-November 2020

In the previous quarter, the project was reported to be restructured in line with new international programming standards for vulnerable Households. This structure was rolled out on beneficiaries of the project. It entailed the provision of Household Economic Strengthening services to strengthen caregivers’ capacity. This service is regarded as the crux of ensuring that caregivers’ capacity is built to provide households’ basic needs (nutrition, health, psychosocial support, protection, education, shelter and care). In executing this, three (3) community volunteers were engaged, to identify and enrol new beneficiaries. They were also saddled with the responsibilities of regularly visiting the households to provide services in the various thematic areas on needs basis as guided in by the care plan which is developed by the community volunteer and the caregiver for the purpose of sustainability. A total of 18 Households were enrolled (20 Caregivers and 34 children).

During the period under review, the various services were provided;

1. Health: Services under this area provided to beneficiaries were referral for HIV counseling and testing for beneficiaries – both caregivers and their children whose HIV status read unknown, escort services for the treatment of minor services, payment for the treatment of minor illnesses such as malaria. A woman with a disability was also escorted to receive screening and treatment of cervical cancer.
2. Education: Children in beneficiaries’ households were visited in their schools after a long break due to the COVID-19 lock down. During these visits, children’s academic performance was assessed to ascertain the level of their academic performance to enable the organization to plan further implementations to help them improve academically.
3. Protection: Children in enrolled households who had no birth certificates were provided with birth certificates in the period under review through partnership with the National Population Commission. Caregivers were also sensitized during home visits on the importance of birth registration, protection of children from all forms of abuse as well as how to respond.
4. Nutrition: Nutrition education and counselling, growth monitoring and nutritional assessment for children were provided for caregiver and children in the month under review.
5. Psychosocial Support: such as counseling support were provided to caregivers and children during home visits. Caregivers’ forum, and kids/ adolescent clubs were also organized for the provision of recreational activities and life skills building.
6. Household Economic Strengthening: As the focal service point, activities provided to caregivers and older children were financial education on identification of assets, income and expenditure and, profit and loss as well as savings

 During this period, in line with our mandate in our gender mainstreaming which is to consciously include and increase women and girls in our programs, adolescent girls were mobilized and linked to skills acquisition programs were they learned, various short skills such as fascinator, bridal accessories, pastries, shoemaking, and hair making.

All activities were monitored using national tools adapted by PCEF as mentioned in our previous report of last quarter. The National Information Management System known as National OVC Management Information System (NOMIS) has been utilized in the storing and analyzing of data gathered from all activities. Routine data quality assessment was carried out on the database to find incorrect and incomplete data and was corrected and completed.

In the next quarter, we intend to scale-up our number of beneficiaries, provide them with more opportunities to increase household income as well as facilitate savings group for beneficiaries.

Our goal and activities for this quarter were however hindered by certain factors. Due to low funding, we were unable to enroll more households as well as provide expanded services such as provision of start-up packs to beneficiaries who were linked for the skills acquisition programme. The ENDSARS Protest was responsible for non-visitation of households, specifically in the month of October as movements were hindered by curfews.

We are grateful to our esteemed sponsors who have played a role in bettering the lives of vulnerable households in Calabar. Your support means a lot to us. We know the world is currently going through numerous crisis but in all, we can make a difference in lives of many by supporting us to continue in this project. It is okay if you cannot support us now but you can also say a word of goodwill to your family, friends, colleagues, acquaintances about our project and how they can support.

Thank you

Edidiong David

Programme Manager