Governor Okorocha flags off 2013 MNCHW in Imo State

The Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has flagged off the 2013 Maternal, New Born and Child Health Week (MNCHW) in Imo State.

Flagging off the exercise at Nwaorieubi, in Mbaitoli Local Government Headquarters yesterday, the governor urged mothers in the state to ensure that their children participate in the immunization exercise towards sustaining Imo as a polio-free state. According to the governor, the exercise will go a long way to reduce physical disability among infants in the State.

Said he;

“The time has come for us to help our children, future of our children must be guaranteed.  I therefore appeal to mothers to take the issue of immunization very seriously.”

He called on all the stakeholders in the state to embark on massive awareness campaign for polio eradication to enable parents understand the need for proper child immunization.

In his speech, the Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere advised pregnant women to attend ante-natal clinic in order to ensure safe delivery and stressed the need for parents to take advantage of the exercise.

Also speaking, the state commissioner for Health, Dr. Joe Obi Njoku said that the MNCH week is a strategy designed to accelerate child survival and development with the ultimate goal of reduction in child mortality, adding that it is a regular event organized to deliver integrated package of preventive exercise known to be low cost but of high impact on maternal and child health.

The Health commissioner said that the exercise will provide the opportunity to administer vitamin “A” supplement to children between the ages of 6months - 59months of age, routine immunization vaccines to children less than one year who have not completed their routine immunization schedule and other child survival interaction such as de-worming.

In his address, the Sole Administrator (SOLAD) for Mbaitoli Local Government Area, Chief Anthony Emmanuel Ihenakwe said the Mbaitoli people are appreciative of the Donor Agencies such as World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency in their continued efforts to reduce maternal, new born and child morbidity and mortality in the country.