National Orientation Agency in Bauchi announces statewide birth registration campaign

By Ude Ogbonnaya Israel, Bauchi

The Bauchi State Director National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mrs Theresa Omaga has announced a statewide campaign on birth registration for children at birth and below the age of five.

Briefing the press men on Wednesday at Federal Secretariat Bauchi, Mrs Omaga said they are taking it serious as birth registration is not for formality but to influence policies and decisions that will positively impact the masses.

She said they are closely partnering with National Populations Commission on whose shoulder the implementation resides as well as UNICEF for effective actualization.

The state NOA boss said the sensitization will kick-start with ten LGAs in the state which includes Darazo, Dambam, Gamawa, Zaki, Itas-Gadau, Jamare, Ganjuwa, Ningi, Warji, Zaki and Itas-Gadau.

Mrs Omaga further said it is not just about reaching the parents, but also engaging community leaders, health workers, civil society organizations, traditional and religious institutions all of whom play critical role in the process.

She lamented that too many in Bauchi state and the country at large remain unregistered making them among the vulnerable that are left behind in development plans.

“We aim to make birth registration a priority for every household, and through this drive, we will be reaching out through various platforms including media, town hall meetings, door-to- door campaign and involvement of schools and health-care centres.

“We believe that with proper information, more parents and guardians will come forward to register their children”, she said.