By Ajibola Adedoye
First Lady of Anambra State, Dr Nonye Soludo, on Saturday lamented the low uptake of immunisation in the state, prompting mothers to prioritise the health and future of their children.
Soludo made the call at the 2nd Anambra State Women Health Summit organised under her Healthy Living Initiative in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO), in Awka.
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She said that immunisation was important to cover children from life-long illness.
“I am not happy to hear that our state is recording low in immunisation uptake. Mothers need to produce time and take their children to health centres to get them vaccinated.
“These childhood vaccines are free, safe and effective. Mothers should see immunisation as a top precedence because when your child is healthy, you’re free from stress and charges endured when a child is ill.
“Since Gov. Chukwuma Soludo’s administration started the free antenatal and delivery policy, Anambra is now one of the states with the smallest maternal mortality. We want to record same in the area of immunisation too,” she said.
Soludo prompted mother’s to appreciate their God-given skin colour and disregard spending so much on bleaching creams.
“Instead of spending so much on bleaching creams, women should rather spend further on regular health checks, eating balanced diets and engaging in regular exercises to stay fit and healthy,” she said.
Also speaking, Dr Uju Obiagwu of the WHO, lamented that immunisation content was gradationally reducing in Anambra.
“The state government is doing so much in cooperation with WHO to insure vacuity of all the nonage vaccines across the health centres but we are not happy that the uptake is low.
“These vaccines help to help acute palsy, measles, polio, meningitis, Lassa fever, yellow fever, cholera and neonatal tetanus.
“We recorded several outbreaks of Measles at Anambra East, Anambra West, Ogbaru and Ayamelum, because they do not take their children to health centres for immunisation.
“Our mothers have a huge part to play in ensuring that children in Anambra are vaccinated. So, spread the communication in your communities to help our children live heathier and longer lives,” she said.
Dr Mohamed Bonos, Anambra State Coordinator, WHO, appreciated the state government for furnishing the enabling terrain and cooperation that promoted the health of residers.
In his submission, Prof. Brian Adinma, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, prompt women to prioritise their reproductive health.
In his remarks, Dr Afam Obidike, State’s Commissioner for Health, said the health peak was a demonstration that the state government recognised the health and welfare of women and children in the state.
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