Day Gov Ugwuanyi flagged off 2016 health week in Enugu

ENUGU, the Enugu State capital, has been in the news for few days now. The Coal City state has recently attracted world attention over the Fulani herdsmen attack on Nimbo and Attakwu communities in February and August 2016 respectively.  The people of the two affected villages have been in mournful mood and grief over the loss of their loved ones in avoidable deaths that occurred in their areas.

But the last Monday event in Enugu was quite different and warming as it was a day Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi  flagged off this year’s health week organised by the state government in conjunction with United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF).

The event proper kicked off at Park Lane Hospital, Enugu with major stakeholders in health sector as well top government functionaries in attendance.

Speaking at the occasion, Governor Ugwuanyi restated his promises to improve on the development of the health sector and make primary health care priority in Enugu state.

According to him, apart from providing specialist services for the people in the rural communities, the health facility would also help to check current rural-to-urban drift syndrome that has bogged down Nigerian society for years now.

“I wish to enjoin all stakeholders in health sector in Enugu to key into this worthy initiative we have taken in the sector and give it the support and cooperation it needs to come to fruition”, he said.

Sa’ando, WASH Specialist, UNICEF, Enugu Field Office, in his goodwill message, commended the government led by Governor Ugwuanyi for its laudable achievements  in office, noting that the state, since 2008 till date, had been certified Polio free.

According to Sa’ando , since the present administration of Ugwuanyi, immunisation had risen above 90 per cent in the state, adding that it was a step in the right direction, especially in the health sector.

He further said that UNICEF would continue to partner and collaborate with the government in the health sector towards improving health issues in the state.

Speaking to Maka Ndigbo,  Mrs Victoria Okenyi  commended the child-friendly initiative embarked upon  by the state government,  urging fathers to give support to their wives to breastfeed their babies.

Mrs Okenyi said, “Breastfeed babies don’t exhibit abnormal behaviours, they are usually intelligent because the breast milk contains all vital ingredient needed for child’s growth.

“It contains colostrum that helps prevent baby from allergy, it makes the baby’s intestine mature in time and prevents breast cancer.

Breast feeding also makes mothers not to get pregnant while nursing their babies and creates bond between mother and child,” she added.

She commended UNICEF for assisting them in the project, adding that the state government was baby friendly and had provided a qualitative medicare which had taken the health sector to the next height.