Red Cross Embarks On Cash Transfer In Seven States, Beneficiaries Applaud The Initiative

The Albino Foundation Public Notice

The Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) has embarked on its Cash Transfer Scheme to 2.5 million people in North West and North Central Nigeria in its effort to address hunger and malnutrition.

Mr Anthony Abah, the Branch Secretary, NRCS Benue, gave this indication in Makurdi during a training session to equip staff and volunteers on the disbursement of the CTP programme.

He said that “in 2022, the society wishes to embark on its scheme to cushion or even avert totally the effects of hunger and malnutrition in Benue, Niger, Nasarawa, Katsina, Zamfara, Kebbi and Sokoto states.”

He said the training was to enlighten staff and volunteers on “Hunger Crisis Intervention”, Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA).

Others, he said, are protection and gender inclusion, as volunteers were taught modalities and methodology of the disbursement.

According to him, the society is a voluntary aid society and an auxiliary to the Nigerian Government whose raison d’etre (main reason) is to alleviate human suffering.

He said the mission of the society was also to alleviate the situation of the vulnerable people which includes those affected by disaster, epidemics, armed conflicts.

Abah said the society caters for the poorest communities in both urban and rural areas, amongst whom are women, children, the aged, displaced and other vulnerable people.

Beneficiaries of the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) cash transfer in Benue, have commended the society for the gesture, saying it has helped relieved their hardship.

A cross section of those interviewed by News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Ogbadibo, Benue, expressed happiness over the transfer.

Mrs Mary Attah, a widow in Ogbadibo community, said that life had been difficult for her as she was saddled with the responsibility of the upkeep of her children after the death of her husband.

Attah said that things had been very difficult for her and the children since the demise of her husband.

“I have little business I do but with this N30,000, I can increase my goods and make more profit.

“Life was very difficult, eating and feeding was a problem, my children could not go to school so with the cash, live will be beautiful for us.

“I thank the society for coming to my assistance, they did as promised, God bless them,’’ she said.

Mrs Blessing Ameh, a nursing mother, supported Attah’s claim, saying that the money would enable her start a charcoal business.

Ameh said that she would be able to feed her three months old child as well as take care of other family needs.

“Am very happy to be a beneficiary of the programme, this will go a long way in solving most of my problems,” she said.

Mr Tanko Odeh, a person living with disability thanked the society for the gesture saying that it would enable him start a shoe making business.

“I have been trying to start a business of my own, but I have not been successful due to lack of funds, but with the money, life would be better for me.

“I wish I could walk so that I can dance and show people how God has blessed me, please Father continue to bless these people,’’ he said.

Odeh urged other civil society organisations and philanthropists to emulate the gesture by finding ways of helping the needy in the county as such would reduce unemployment.

NAN reports that the society had said that 5,700 people would benefit from the cash transfer programme in seven states across the country.

Mr Antenyi Oloche, Disaster Management Officer, NRCS, said 100 pregnant and lactating mothers would get N10,000 each for 10 months, while 700 others would be given N30,500 for three months each.

(NAN)