Immunize your children against killer diseases, Adamawa govt urges parents

From Umar Dankano, Yola.

The Adamawa State government has urged parents and guardians to ensure that their wards are being immunised against children killer diseases in the state.
Commissioner of Health,Professor Abdullahi Isah made the call at the official flag off ceremony of the 2nd round of Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) week campaign for women and children aged 0-59 months.
Professor Isah who stood in for Governor Ahmadu Umaru FIntiri at the occasion in Gurin town of Fufore local governmentaArea in the state, said 452 health facility had been designated for the exercise across the state.
He explained that services to be provided alongside immunization against childhood killer diseases included screening of acute malnutrition, deworming and administration of vitamin ‘A’ to children, provision of antenatal care and iron-folate to pregnant women.
“Also there will be distribution of mosquito nets, health education messages on key house hold practice,HIV/AIDS testing and counseling as well as child spacing services,” Isa said.
Speaking, the Executive Chairperson of the Adamawa State Primary Healthcare Agency, Dr Batulu Mohammad, said during the one week exercise, parents were expected to take their children to any of the 452 health facility within the first three days.
In her remark, the wife of the state governor, Mrs Lami Fintiri, who assured of her husband’s priority to healthcare delivery, urged traditional and religious leaders to mobilize pregnant mother with their children to make maximum use of the free interventions.
In their respective remarks, the Chairman of Fufore LG, Alhaji Musa Umaru, and the District Head of Gurin, Alhaji Ibrahim Yero, thanked government for choosing Gurin for the flag-off and assured that they would mobilize their people to ensure 100 per cent success of the exercise in the LGA.