Save the Children International has launched the distribution of assistive devices to children with special needs and referral to specialists in Zamfara, Kaduna, and Katsina.

Mustapha Yusuf, the SCI advocacy and campaign officer, disclosed this at the launch of the distribution on Sunday in Mashi LGA of Katsina.

He said the benefiting LGAs were: Mashi and Musawa in Katsina, Bungudu and Anka in Zamfara, and Chukun and Igabi in Kaduna.

According to Mr Yusuf, the gesture is part of the NGO’s Integrated Emergency Education Response project in the North-West, targeting approximately 8,000 children with special needs.

He explained that some of the assistive devices include: wheelchairs, hearing aid devices, crutches, walking sticks, magnifying glasses, and artificial eyes, among others

Mr Yusuf said that the project was funded by the Education Cannot Wait initiative and implemented by SCI in collaboration with the governments of benefiting states.

The one-year project began in October 2024 across the selected LGAs in Zamfara, Kaduna, and Katsina.

The SCI advocacy and campaign officer added that officials were still assessing children with special needs across the LGAs in the benefiting states.

He added that in Katsina alone, about 2,500 children expected to benefit from Mashi and Musawa LGAs would also be supported to return to school.

He said the project had enrolled 29,127 children—surpassing its target of 21,127 in-school and 7,000 out-of-school children, with 8,150 now enrolled from the latter group.

He emphasised that the goal was to support children affected by displacement due to insecurity or flooding, ensuring uninterrupted access to education.

“Since it’s an integrated project, we’re also addressing protection and gender discrimination. We aim to support communities in Mashi and Musawa LGAs to develop climate change mitigation plans. To strengthen child protection, SCI is working with community structures to implement protective strategies,” he said.

He noted that the project included alternative learning centres for out-of-school children and partnerships with schools for in-school students.

Mr Yusuf added that the project had also registered more than 2,100 parents for positive parenting classes, known as ‘Safe Family’, in Mashi LGA.

(NAN)