By Haruna Gimba
The Community Health and Research Initiative (CHR) has celebrated the 2019 World NGOs Day with a theme; Partnership for Sustainable
Development.
The event was organised by CHR in collaboration with other Non-Governmental Organisation which includes; Rescue the Women Foundation, Center for Sustainable Development and Communication
Initiative and the Accountability Mechanism on Maternal and Child Health in Kano State (AMMKaS).
Others are; Partnership for the Promotion of Maternal and Child Health in Kano State (PPMCH), Girl Child and Community Development Initiative and the Friends of the Community Organization.
Health Reporters gathered that the World NGO Day was officially recognized and declared by the 12 member countries of Belarus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Norway and Sweden.
Speaking during a press briefing to commemorate the day, Acting Executive Director of CHR, Salisu Musa Muhammad, said CHR and its partners deem it fit to commemorate the day to create awareness on the activities of NGOs and their impact in the society.
“The universal concept of the World NGO Day is Celebrate, Commemorate and Collaborate with the various NGOs around the world, and the people behind them.
“World NGO Day is a day for NGOs around the globe to share knowledge and experiences with one another, with the aims to educate individuals worldwide on NGOs and their impact,” he said.
According to the CHR’s acting ED, World NGO Day is an international calendar day annually observed on the February 27 annually, officially recognized and declared by the 12 member countries of the NGO Forum of the Council of the Baltic Sea States in 2010 and first time marked by the UN, EU leaders and international organizations in 2014.
Muhammad added that the aim is to inspire people and groups to become more actively involved within NGOs and facilitate working
relationships between NGOs, media, communities, Government, private sector and individual stake holders.
He said: “CHR have acknowledged the wonderful contribution of NGOs in Nigeria both at national and sub national levels which support the
entrenchment of democracy and enforcement of good governance, transparency and accountability.
“Promotion of human rights which includes; the rights of the vulnerable groups such as people with disabilities, people living with HIV/AIDS, Sickle Cell Community and Albinos to mention but few.”
Salisu Musa added that the NGOs have contributed to the legislative advocacy and passage of many wonderful laws covering justice reforms, Child Right Act 2003 and National Health Act 2014.
He further stated that at the state level, legislative advocacies by the NGOs led to the establishment of Contributory Health Management Agencies, Health Trust Fund and Drug and Consumables Management Agencies.
“The CHR and its partners are calling on government at all levels to allocate at least 1% of their total atate Internally Generated Revenue
for community development as a Development Trust Fund and to be managed by an independent board of trustees.
“We also call on local and international philanthropists and donors to invest in community development by working with civil society organizations to implement policy reforms, service delivery and demand creation.
“Government at all levels should established or strengthen existing NGO offices by appointing NGO advisors with NGO background, experienced and versatile,” he added.
Health Reporters gathered that the World NGO Day was officially recognized and declared by the 12 member countries of Belarus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Norway and Sweden.
