Presidential Aide Cautions On Unorthodox Health Attendants

As the first phase of the Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs) gradually comes to an end, pregnant women have been warned not to visit
unorthodox health practitioners for their safety and the health of their
babies.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs, Mrs
Precious K. Gbeneol, gave the warning recently during her tour in Port Harcourt
.

Gbeneol, said she was happy with the level of improvement in
the mortality rate, which has droped from 800 per cent to 500 per cent, stating
that the presidency will be happier if the ratio drops to zero level.

She noted that MDGs is for everyone, hence the need to
utilise its projects.

She regretted that MDG projects were vandalised at the
communities where they are situated, adding that all hands must be on deck to
achieve set target.

The eight cardinal points of the MDGs, she said, are to
eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, achieve universal basic education,
promote gender equality and women empowerment as well as to reduce child
mortality. Others include, to improve maternal health, combat HIV/AIDS, malaria
and other diseases, ensure environmental sustainability and develop a global
partnership for development.

She further asked the Governor’s SA on MDGs, Mr Desire
Bobmanuel, to hurry and execute the state’s own quota so that more funds will be
made available for them.

At the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex, the Speaker,
Rt Hon Otelemaba Amachree, promised better legislation that will promote MDGs
vision in the state.

Hon. Amachree, assured that the House under his leadership
will not hesitate to pass into law any Bill in favour of MDGs sent to it.

Meanwhile, the Special Assistant to the  Governor on MDGs,  Mr Desire Bobmanuel said that the state was
working tirelessly to ensure that the MDGs visions are achieved before 2015.

Bobmanuel hinted that the state was giving prime attention
to everything that are needed by the rural people, which according to him are
the main target of the MDGs.