The governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has called traditional rulers and parents to avail their wives and children for the on going routine immunization against killer diseases among mothers and newborn children of the state.
Bello gave the charge on Wednesday in Lokoja during the flagg off of the last quarter of 2018 Maternal , Newborn and Child health week ( MNCHW) held in lokoja.
The governor noted that the pragmatic approach of his administration and synergy with development partners and groups toward maternal healthcare delivery system have reduced deaths and diseases associated with mothers and newborn below the age of five.
He added that his government’ s healthcare plus with the cooperation of the first lady’s Health foundation have reduced maternal, child mortality and morbity in the rural areas.
The governor stressed that the state Primary Health care Development Agency which has been providing disease surveillance, notification and quick response has improved the rate of mothers accessing maternity and post maternity services in the rural areas.
He disclosed that in order to bridge the gap among the service providing agencies , a bill on Primary Health care under one roof ( PHCUOR) has been passed by the state Assembly .
Bello assured the people of his quick assent to the bill to ensure smooth transition between the Agency, Ministries and the Parastatals adding that a committee will be set up for its implementation.
Wife of Kogi State Governor, Mrs Rashida Bello
In the same vein , the wife of the governor and the founder of the Rashida Bello Health care Foundation , Hajia Rashida Bello said her foundation has successfully carried out healthcare services to over 3, 000 mothers and newborn children across the rural villages in the East and Central zones of the state.
She assured the people that the services that are being provided by her foundation, the state government and the Primary Health care Agency should make women not to die by child birth.
She urged traditional rulers, parents, stakeholders and well meaning individuals to join hands with the government in creating awareness for Mothers and Children to visit designated centres for the one week programme.
In a remark, the Executive Director of the state Primary Health care development agency Dr. Abubakar Yakubu said that the Maternal, Newborn and Child Week ( MNCHW) which is a bi annual event in the state was to create awareness for mothers to access services to deworm , screen for acute malnutrition and to give Vitamin A to children within ages 6– 59 moths.
He decried the actions of the field workers who could not provide accurate data with its negative impact on the Agency and vowed to deal with erring staff on the inaccurate reports of the exercise.
He said that the agency has performed well in the area of measles vaccination, mosquito nets distribution, while assuring of doubling their efforts at the end of this week’s exercise.
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