RULIN ORGANIZES BACK TO SCHOOL PROGRAMME

AGBOR (Ika Weekly) – Rural Linkage Network, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) based in Agbor started this year’s back to school programme for orphans and vulnerable children on Monday

                            

Speaking on the programme, the coordinator of the NGO, Dr. (Mrs.) R.N. Okoh said Rural Linkage Network through her “save the orphans programme” organizes annual ‘Back to school programme’ to help orphans and vulnerable children especially those who are in SS3 and cannot register for SSC examination and those with additional health challenges 

                            

She called on all well meaning Nigerians to be part of what God is doing in these latter days so that the deprived can have a sense of belonging.

                            

Mrs. Okoh revealed that the NGO is now reaching out to about three hundred children living in the communities and in various orphanage homes, pointing out that each of the children needs school books, bags, uniform, small education grant of N3000 to N5000, full scholarship for HIV positive orphans among others, adding that those in SS 3 will be given N10, 000 each for SSCE registration.

                            

She therefore appealed to members of the public to come to the aid of the children so that they can live a comfortable life.

                            

While the NGO was busy with her programme, the mobile counselling and testing team of Global HIV/AIDS Initiative Nigeria (GHAIN) visited the NGO, to counsel the children on HIV/AIDS and conduct free test.

                            

Speaking on behalf of the team, the Assistant counselling and testing officer, Mr. Guobadia Dickson said GHAIN, a project under the family Health International, is conducting free HIV/AIDS counselling and testing for children of HIV/AIDS positive parents, in order to find out those who need medical assistance, and adequate action.

 

He said GHAIN will take care of the medical need of any child that tests positive, adding that it is the body’s way of adding meaning to the lives of the less privileged.

                            
The team started with group information  section where the children were exposed to detailed teaching on HIV/AIDS, which was followed by a one on one counselling and testing section.