Abia state government through its primary health care development agency has charged all health care workers to re-examine and update their knowledge, practical skills and improve on interpersonal communication skills and attitude to provide the leadership and technical support needed to make our health care delivery attractive.
The wife of the Governor, Mrs. Priscilla Otti who was on ground at the Umuahia North LGA of the state to flag off the first round of year 2024, maternal, newborn and child health week, call on all mothers and care givers especially mothers whose children are above 12 months and those who have completed their immunization to avail themselves of the opportunity provided by the state government to visit the health facilities and outreach sites for services to improve their children’s vitamin A status and general health.
The Governor’s wife represented by the wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adaeze Emetu said that Gov. Otti is very intentional on the quality and improvement of health care delivery to all Abians adding that any activity that will help to bring down the unacceptably high rate of maternal mortality is a very welcome activity and will receive the support of the Governor.
According to her, “the importance of the maternal, newborn and child health week and the need for children under 5 years of age to receive preventive doses of vitamin A supplement and de-worming tablets twice each year are preventive measures provided by the state government to avoid mother and child mortality rate.
Mortality from any preventable cause is a violation of the individual’s basic human right and must be stopped”.
However, Mrs. Otti, frowned that maternal and child deaths have remained on the increase lately expressing that these deaths are preventable if we all work together by putting in our best.
In his address, the Executive Secretary, Abia Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Kalu Ulu Kalu, pointed out that the goal of the week long activities is to reduce morbidity and mortality from preventable causes and improve the general wellbeing of the beneficiaries.
Dr. Kalu, also call on all pregnant and nursing mothers and indeed all caregivers in Abia state to take advantage of the government measures and effort to improve the health and well-being of our children.
He commended the WHO, UNICEF, NPHCDA, and other development partners for their untiring effort and assistance in improving the health of Abia women and children.
Meanwhile, the Mayor of Umuahia North Council, Chief Victor Ikeji, commended the speed with which the administration led by Governor Alex Otti is changing the narratives in the state and thanked the ministry of health for choosing his council as the flag off point for this year maternal and child health week.
