By Our Reporter
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Tunji Alausa, has reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to collaborate with Chartered Institute of Social Work Practitioners of Nigeria to uplift professional standards in the sector and ensure effective social work practices nationwide.
He made the commitment when some members of the Institute paid a courtesy visit to the Minister in Abuja, yesterday.
Alausa, who identified the Institute as cutting across sectors like health, humanitarian, education among others said effective collaboration with the relevant sectors would ensure better delivery of its mandates,
He further advised members of the institute to ensure harmonious working relationship with professionals in relevant sectors for effective service delivery to humanity.
“The ministry does not have any authority over the Institute since it has a governing board and self-funded but we can collaborate with you when the need arises.
“Social work cuts across several sectors and you have to collaborate across all sectors accordingly.
“Social sector encompasses a lot of things; it focuses on human capital development, health, education and any other social protection programme under women affairs, humanitarian and education sector.
“There is abundant work inherent in the institute and if well executed it will go a long way in addressing a lot of social ills in the society for the benefits of the entire populace,” he said.
Earlier, Prof Yemisi Abashoro-John, the President of the Institute, assured the ministry that social welfare component was set to compliment the healthcare towards the realisation of a holistic health approach for Nigerians.
Abashoro-John said the institute would always cooperate with the ministry on all matters of professional social work services whenever the need arises.
The president appealed to the minister to partner and collaborate with the institute on social welfare matters.
“We are sure of your proactive efforts to sustain results in tackling health and social welfare challenges in Nigeria and the world at large.
“We also recognise that all of us in the health and social service sector have a moral responsibility in building an inclusive, tranquil and true system for ourselves and future generations”, she said.
The president said the visit was to seek collaboration of the ministry to uplift the professional services of social welfare and inclusion of the institute in the social welfare activities of the ministry.
“The establishment of a social welfare desk in the ministry and appointing a registered and licensed social worker into your team for ease of social welfare related activities’’, she said.
The Chartered Institute of Social Work Practitioners of Nigeria is a professional and regulatory body for social workers in Nigeria, chartered by Act No 25 of 2022.
It is charged with the responsibilities and powers to determine the standard of practice and register and license social work practitioners among other approved functions.
Social workers are responsible for professional social intervention in the society in line with the laid down principles.
