OGUN BEGINS TAKE HOME RATION DISTRIBUTION TO SCHOOL CHILDREN

By Bolaji Abiodun & Segun Owotomo

The Take Home Rations (THRs) programme of the Federal Government in collaboration with Ogun State Government has been flagged off in Abeokuta the State capital.

 The programme which was a means of supporting children to continue to have access to nutritious  foods despite the distruptions in the School Feeding Programme by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking at the flag off ceremony,  Hon. Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Mr Femi Ogunbanwo said the State had gone round to verify and identify all the households that the pupils live, and it will be using the voucher system for easy distribution of the THRs.

  Ogunbanwo explained that the Ministry apart from giving food to beneficiaries had also incoroperated rapid sensitization into all phases of the distributions so that the targeted children are equipped with the knowledge needed to stay safe and healthy.

  He noted that few personnel including monitoring teams as been setup to see the success of the innovation towards ensuring the targeted children are reached.

 The Senior Adviser to the President on Humanitarian Affairs, Mrs Titi Adeyemi- Doro, stated that the initiative was part of the President  Muhammdu Buhari's directive to reach  the pupils within their households during the lockdown while asking for continuous cooperation and understanding of all stakeholders to ensure that the food items get to the intended beneficiaries.

 She revealed that each Rations is made up of 5kg Bag of rice, 5kg Bag of beans, Vegetable oil, Palmoil, salt, half crate of eggs, tomatoes paste.

"All those households must have a child already benefiting from the existing National Homegrown School Feeding Programme and the pupils' name is in the school register, the pupil will be identified by the teacher and the parents will be identified by the School Based Management Committee(SBMC) and the community" she said.

 In his goodwill message, Bishop of Egba diocese, Bishop Adekunle Oludaisi appreciated the Federal government for the laudable initiative and the State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun for supporting the course and ensuring that the project is brought to fruition.

Some of the beneficiary got their relief package at the event. One of the benefitting parent, Mrs.Abraham Mulikiat thanked the government for providing the ration, saying it would be of good support for her family at this time and that her family is happy about the programme.