The Secretary of State for National Solidarity Zahra Youssouf Kayad officially launched yesterday morning the project of social safety nets in the great popular area Arhiba. Several personalities including the Minister of Health, Dr Osman Kassim Isaak and several parliamentarians and the aedile of the capital, Houssein Abdillahi Kayad took part in the ceremony held at the headquarters of the UDC to Arhiba. The association Atu Yoo Fan, who co-sponsored the ceremony was also strongly represented.

The time certainly a landmark in the history of the association Union for Cultural Development ‘(UDC) based hosted the launching ceremony of the project of social safety nets.

A beautiful setting, beautiful people, and especially strong commitments to relieve the silent suffering of the lowest in this great neighborhood.

The Secretary of State for National Solidarity Zahra Youssouf Kayad will not have missed the opportunity to recall and emphasize the government’s commitment not to let anyone on the roadside: « Started in 2011 by the ADDS this safety net program covers poor Balbala and extended regions.

This geographic expansion will continue as it helps to strengthen the system of protection for vulnerable populations, for weakly covered now. « And Zahra Youssouf Kayad to trace the route of this social protection program that traveled » Balbala Douda, Adailou, Obock and Dikhil « before reaching » Arhiba « where » the draft Prevention of malnutrition community-based and high labor intensive works « benefit some » 300 beneficiaries (who) may participate in high labor intensity by the end of 2014 « .

Before going into the details of the program, Ms. Zahra Youssouf Kayad announced that « in the coming days, [it] were to even launch into the water Tarpaulin Balbala quarter » As for the details of the program, she said that it « will last three years, including the year 2014 funded by the Japanese Don and the next two by the World Bank. »

And the main beneficiaries will be « pregnant and / or breastfeeding and children under two years. « Which will be entitled to » various nutrition benefits are provided such as: the promotion of a diverse diet for pregnant women and children from 0 to 2 years, improving nutritional practices of families through behavioral change, use and access to basic health services such as antenatal care, assisted deliveries, immunizations, preventive care of the child and others. 1,000 households are potentially eligible. « 

Zahra Youssouf Kayad highlighted the active participation and commitment of his colleagues, the ministers of health and interior, as well as partners such as WFP and associations working in the field to allow the program to bear fruit .

The Minister of Health, Dr Kassim Issak Osman, who co-sponsored the ceremony, sounded the alarm about the urgency of the precarious nutritional situation in many areas of the country.

So dramatic it is, this situation was not as desperate in his eyes, she called only a strong reaction and a manly government intervention « This new combined malnutrition prevention program with highly labor intensive activities carried out at the community level will be accompanied more by the Ministry of health to allow a substantial reduction in significant costs associated with treatment of child malnutrition and maternal anemia. »

What the government has obviously carried through « This approach, like synergy element of government programs, will increase the coverage of health and nutrition services through better use of community health centers while putting the focus on screening for emergency signs at community level. »

Dr Kassim Issak concluded that beyond the involvement of the community, which remains fundamental, « nutrition is obviously a multisectoral problem that must implement multi-sectoral solutions. »

Local authorities, the mayor at the head, recalled by the chairman of the Joint Boulaos, Said Abdi, the full commitment of their services to ensure a successful implementation of the program whose interest is unanimously recognized as beneficial for communities: « It was time to intervene in this area where malnutrition with all its dimensions and its effects await the inhabitants.

This integrated social protection approach with concomitant goals will relieve the daily suffering of the population of Arhiba.

In this challenging task, be assured of the full cooperation of the municipality for the journey to achieving food and nutrition security objectives and the fight against poverty. « Note also active and dynamic collaboration of the Association Atu yoo fan in the implementation of the program.

It is this same association who had performed triage and made proposals from eligible households and individuals to social assistance program. Preparations and orchestration of the launching ceremony of the social safety net program, also came back to him.

At the end of official intervention, officials made the recordings of target households were made up of several pregnant women and nursing of children from 0 to 2 years.

Then, a field visit followed and allowed the authorities to take note of the material provided for the preparation of meals, materials that have been generously donated by ADDS.

Many women of the association Ato yoo Fan, who must perform the project Arhiba and ensure full implementation have on-site demonstrations and explained how going to be organized different tasks they will be assigned.

Note that four seats belonging to the Association Atu Yoo Fan ensure preparations of meals for children 0-2 years.

Remember, the folk dances and traditional songs available at the beginning of ceremony to be a good atmosphere had a hit in terms of the mood that led to this serious and full of solemn moment.