The Abia State Commissioner of Health,Dr Joe Osuji, has reiterated for any life-transforming programme to excel,no sane mind or institution can afford to down play the role of the media, as the public has always rely on the media to make informed decisions.
Dr Osuji who represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Deaconess Franca Ekwueme, made the statement during one day state Stakeholders Engagement/ Sensitization And Awareness campaign meeting on Accelerated Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRIN) Project held in Umuahia.
Deaconess Franca Ekweme
She tasked the operators of ANRIN project to robustly engage and partner the media in order to achieve the desired results.
Deaconess Ekwueme explained that the media has the capacity to mobilize, sensitize and penetrate hard- to-reach communities adding that the media sector would always turn things around for better, when you partner with them.
Speaking earlier, the state Project Manager, Dr Uhuaba Eugene, narrated how Abia State Government attracted the nutrition intervention project into the state revealing that Abia remains one of the 10 states that is implementing ANRIN project in Nigeria.
He disclosed that Abia secured this project when the visionary Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Victor Ikpeazu promptly paid the counter-part fund that propel the World Bank Assisted Programme to seamless take-off in the state.
Dr Uhuaba called on participating journalists to embark on aggressive media campaign that would ensure that no pregnant woman, lactating mother and child is left behind in the ANRIN Project. He revealed that children that suffer acute malnutrition will experience stunted growth, lack proper brain development among several deficiencies.
Meanwhile, Community/Mobilization and Engagement Officer of ANRIN, Mr Stanley Ajamgbulogu, presented a paper that dwelled on “ANRIN Project Grievance Redress Mechanism GRM PPT”. He professionally highlighted how grievances arising from the implementation of the project could be seamlessly addressed.
On her part, the state Nutrition Officer, Mrs Nmerechi Ofoegbu expertly delivered a paper that handled “Healthcare Waste Management Plan”.
She re-emphasized that both the hazardous and non-hazardous waste should be properly disposed, so as to have a healthy environment and polity.
The state Director of National Orientation Agency, Dr (Mrs) Ngozi Okechukwu, in her goodwill message tasked operators of ANRIN project in the state to robustly engage NOA that has foot soldiers that would assist them excel accordingly.
