The Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS) conducted the 11th Technical Working Group Meeting on May 13, 2024, at the Emerald Hall, EM Manor Hotel, Cotabato City entitled “Strengthening Engagement with Muslim Religious Leaders for the Promotion of Child Rights and Islam Programs” with its implementing partners on the Quick Response Immunization Campaign on Measles Outbreak, the Bangsamoro Darul-Ifta, the Hay-Ato Ulama EL-Muslimina BIl-Filibbin, the Committee on Da’wah Masajid Affairs, the UNICEF, and the IPHO Lanao del Sur.
The meeting aims to provide updates on the Campaign to End Violence Against Children in BARMM and Measles Outbreak Response Immunization in Lanao del Sur, to identify areas of collaboration to strengthen the partnership in implementing child protection and health programs, and, as well as to identify and address the gaps, challenges, action points, and bottleneck issues and concerns in the implementation of the collaborative project.
Mr. Guiamel Alim, CBCS Chairperson and Secretary General sighted his favorite quote that says, “Coming Together is the Beginning, Keeping Together is Progress, and Working Together is Success” in welcoming the project partners and agency representatives in the recently concluded 11th TWG Meeting of the Khutba project of CBCS. Mr. Alim, recognized the religious groups present, including representatives from IPHO Lanao del Sur, MILG, and MOH, especially UNICEF, which played a vital role in the child protection component.
For Mr. Alim, the meeting is an avenue to discuss what has been done for the past three (3) years and updates on what needs to be done. “Where will it be?, Where are we now, and Where are we moving forward?”. Protecting children in a very unique way of disseminating vital information through the work of our partners in the form of KHUTBA. Furthermore, this is the first time that we have a manuscript wherein these can be used in Masjids, Symposiums, and other forms of communication.
The Project Officer, Mr. Mohamad S. Omar, discussed the highlights of the previous TWG Meeting. Phase I of the program started in 2019, wherein they developed 16 Child Rights Sermons, Phase 2, in April 2020-June 2021, added another 28 Child Rights Sermons, Phase 3, in July 2022, and highlighted the campaign on COVID-19 Vaccination and Prevention. Phase 4, from December 2022 to May 2023, still focuses on COVID-19 vaccination in the provinces of Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao. And now, in Phase 5, which covers from October 2023 until June 2024,. Phase 5 highlights the development of the Campaign on 44 Child Rights in Islam Sermons launched in August 2021 at Ebrahim Hall, EM Manor Hotel, and was attended by the late Grand Mufti Sheik Abuhuraira Hudasan, Representatives from UNICEF, and other partners from the Ministries of BARMM.
Project partners pledged their continuous support in the implementation of Immunization to prevent another measles outbreak inLanao del Sur and the entire region. Measles can be acquired by all ages, which is why the dissemination of the Developed 44 Child Rights Sermons was highly recommended and regular reproduction of IEC materials will help in advocating the campaign.
The Technical Working Group agreed to engage with the community to address refusals, to provide education or Khutbas on the importance of vaccination and encourage participation, and lastly, to explore ways to strengthen collaboration with religious leaders for effective immunization coverage.
JAMAHERIA G. COMPANIA
Communications and Advocacy Officer
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