Local news -5.4.11 - By Mary Tioko - Universal Birth Registration (UBR) Baseline Stakeholders meeting

Universal Birth Registration (UBR) Baseline Stakeholders meeting held at Nawoitorong women conference centre was organized by the World Vision Kenya Manager , Mr. Emmanuel Mkoba and Integrated programme Area (IPA) officer Mr. Musa Bwino Tioko. The workshop brought together 25 participants from various stakeholders supporting the welfare of the children in Turkana County. Opening the Meeting on behalf of the District Commissioner the District Officer for Turkana central who is based in Kalokol and now acting D.O Central Mr. David Machuma said that the Government supports all the efforts of ensuring that children receive their Birth certificates and are supported well by the Provincial Administration to ensure the system works well.
The meeting was called in order to disseminate and validate the findings of the baseline survey on UBR carried out in February 2011, in Lodwar and Lokori areas. In the findings the consultant recommended that children have right to nationality and identity, providing access to health care, provide access to Immunization ,ensure that all children enrolled have birth certificates, enforce law and order and protect children who are trafficked.
In his closing remarks, the Deputy Officer Commanding Police Division Mr. John Onditi said that enforcers of law and order face difficult challenges in their endeavors to give people registration birth certificates as people gave false information that leads to some of the not forgetting the required documents.
All stakeholders are called upon to create awareness on their various levels and ensure that children are registered and mothers encouraged to deliver in Hospitals for immediate access to these valid documents .