The United Nations Children’s Fund,UNICEF,says74.6 percent of Gombe state residents are poor.

Yusuf Auta, the UNICEF Bauchi field office social protection specialist, announced this at the opening of a workshop on developing the implementation plan and costing the Gombe state social protection policy on Monday in Jos.

Auta explained that the figures were captured in the recently developed social protection policy document for the state.

“Current statistics show that 74.6 percent of Gombe state residents live below thepovertyline. This simply suggests that sevenoutof 10 residents of Gombe State are poor,” he said.

Mr. Auta also lamented the high level ofmultidimensional poverty among children in the state.

He explained that many children in the state suffered from multidimensional poverty.

“The multidimensional analysis of child poverty inNigeriashows that 71.9% of Gombe’s children are multidimensionallypoor.

“This simply means that the majority of children in the state do not have access to nutrition, health services, education, housing, sanitation, water and information. Unfortunately, most of the children in Gombe are denied access to these basic necessities of life,” he said.

He congratulated the state government for developing the policy document, adding that it would put the state on the path of growth and development.

He said the policy, if implemented, will promote the well-being of children and women in the state.

“UNICEF is happy to be part of this process and this is because it affects the lives of women and children. UNICEF pays attention to women and children because it is the creed of development.

“With adequate education, health, nutrition, water and sanitation, poverty reduction, among others, the child is at home. The social protection policy provides the platform for UNICEF to help women and children have a better life.

“So, we are here to draw up an implementation plan that will be in accordance with the state budget provision,” he said.

He promised that UNICEF will continue to support the state with technical assistance to address some of the issues that the policy seeks to achieve.

The meeting had participants from ministries, government departments and agencies, MDA, traditional institutions, development partners and the media, among others.

(NAN)