Over 700,000 children gets birth certificate in Bauchi

Over 700,000 children have been targeted to be issued with birth certificates in the ongoing birth registration exercise in Bauchi state.

The Director of the National Population Commission (NPC), Bauchi state, Malam Musa Haruna disclosed this yesterday while speaking to journalists in Shira Local Government Area of the state yesterday.

Haruna maintained that the 10 days exercise organized by EU-UNICEF in collaboration with NPC and Bauchi state government witnessed massive turn out of parents.

He stated that “though our target is for 700,000 children but we have supplied over 800,000 materials because when a field worker made mistake during the registration, he will have to cancel the certificate and issue a new one hence the need to have more materials for the registration.

Reports indicates massive turn out of parents during the registration exercise which is impressive and we are hoping to register more than the above figure after the exercise.”

In his remark, the Shira Local Government Caretaker Committee Chairman, Shuaibu Abubakar assured of his support towards the success of the birth registration exercise.

Abubakar who spoke though his Director Administration and General Service, Bayo Mohammed Dango said the local Government met with traditional and religious leaders informing them of the exercise so that they can mobilize their wards.

“We are happy parents came out enmass to register their children. We shall continue to create awareness on birth registration on radio and other medium to ensure all children are registered.

Also, the National Population Commission (NPC) Comproller in Toro LGA, Adamu Musa Tilde, described the exercise as a huge success following the prompt response of parents registering their children and wards

He said about 185 ad hoc staff have being deployed to all the 17 wards in 3 discreet area of Toro LG which are Toro, Lame and Jama’a for the registration exercise “our staff are on the field conducting the exercise and the feedback is encouraging,” he said

Esther Dabo who acquired birth certificate for her 2 years old baby, Deborah Dabo in Magama Gumau, Toro LG commended state government, NPC and EU-UNICEF for conducting the registration exercise in Bauchi state.

She said” I registered my child because I was told the birth certificate is an important document that will help government to plan for children so that they can benefit from health insurance as well as other social amenities.