CSOs mobilize to fight poverty, hunger in Anambra

AWKA — A COALITION of Civil Society Organizations, CSOs, in Anambra State has mobilized its members to fight poverty and hunger, as well as promote gender equality, good health and quality education in all parts of the state.

Coordinator of CSOs under the aegis of Network of Civil Society Stakeholders for Development Programmes in the state, Dr. Chinwe Anowai, at a meeting attended by the participating organizations in Awka, urged them to contribute their quota towards the success of the programme because government would not do everything for the needy in the society. According to her, the coalition would collaborate with the University of Nigeria, Nsukka for the training of volunteers from the various civil society groups on the best way to meet the needs of the people that require their services.

Members of the CSOs in Anambra State.

Anowai said: “Though extreme poverty has been cut by more than half since 1990, one in every five persons still lives on less than $1.25 a day. Poverty is also more than lack of income or resources as it includes lack of basic services, such as education, hunger, social discrimination and exclusion, as well as lack of participation in decision making.

“Age grades are affected differently when struck with poverty and its most devastating effects are on children to whom it poses a great threat. It affects their education, health, nutrition and security. It also negatively affects the emotional and spiritual development of children through the environment it creates.

“This coalition hopes to achieve gender equality and empower women and girls by providing them with equal access to education, health care, decent work and representation in political and economic decision-making processes. This will fuel sustainable economies and benefit societies and humanity at large.”

Anowai also regretted that only half of women in developing countries receive the health care they need, adding that the important target for the coalition was to reduce the number of deaths in the society.