NOA Tasks Royal Fathers, Women On Health Centres

As the Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW), an immunisation programme of the Rivers State Government and partner agency, commenced on Monday, June 18, 2012, the National Orientation Agency (NOA), has called on traditional rulers and women to avail themselves the opportunity it provides.

The state Director, NOA, Andy Nweke, made this call at the palace of the paramount ruler of Obeakpu, in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Chief Nweke said the MNCHW which is a programme of the state government and United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF), was designed to last one week and its expected to administer vaccines to children from 0-five years and women of child bearing age 15-49 years and called on the traditional rulers to encourage the subjects particularly women and fathers to accept the immunisation and properly use the health facilities provided by the state government.

He noted that if they would compliment governments efforts in ensuring adequate healthcare for the people by utilising the facilities, government would be encouraged to do and warned them against vandalism.

He also encouraged them to report any health worker who did not report for duty or any other misdemeanour to his office and propriate disciplinary measures would be taken against such through the state Ministry of Health.

The paramount ruler, His Royal Highness, Eze S. N. Nweke (JP), who was represented by the secretary of the Obeakpu Council of Chiefs, Chief Godwin Igwe, thanked the NOA boss and his team for the visit and promised that they would ensure proper use of the health facilities in their community and encourage the immunisation of their children.

In her address to the women, the state Social Mobilisation Officer (SMO), Ministry of Health, Doris Nria, told them that refusal to use the health facilities could lead to fatalities and decay and stressed that it was important that they patronise the health facilities.

Mrs Nria explained that the MNCH Week is loaded with 12 interventions including vaccination of children, 0-five years against disease such as tuberculosis, whooping cough, poliomyelitis, hepatitis, B, HIB, measles, tatanus and yellow fever.

According to her, there would also be free distribution of vitamin-A anti-malarial, de-worming, folate and iron drugs and Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) while women of child bearing age would be given tetanus vaccine as well as health talk.

She encouraged them to visit a health centre or temporary fixed post closest to them to receive the vaccines.

On her part, Deputy Director, Health Education and Community Mobilisation, Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, Charity Blakk, talked to the women on personal hygiene and proper hand washing methods as well as proper waste disposal methods.

Mrs. Blakk told them they must wash their hands with soup or as after handling fasces, visiting the toilet, returning from the farm or a visit, before and after handling food.

She also advised that where a water cistern toilet was not available, they could dig a pit and cover the feaces with ash to help prevent flies from perching on them and spreading diseases.

In his remarks, Director Public Enlightenment Rivers State Ministry of Information, Paulinus Nsirim, stated that the MNCH Week, was a bi-annual programme approved by the National Council of Health,  Asaba-capital of Delta State, and thanked the Rivers State Government for taking the issue of health seriously.

Tonye Nria-Dappa