Prevent Avoidable Deaths through Public Health Institutions, Dame Okowa Charges Mothers

Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba

Wife of the Delta State Governor, Dame Edith Okowa, has charged mothers and children to avail themselves of various Health Preventive Services provided by Public Health Institutions to address their health concerns and reduce avoidable deaths occasioned by preventable diseases.

Dame Okowa, who gave the charge Saturday in Asaba while flagging off the 2017 second round of the Maternal and Newborn Child Health Week in Delta State, harped on the need for mothers to visit primary healthcare facilities nearest to them to receive free diagnosis, treatment and free medication as well as get their children immunised.

Chairman of the Delta State Primary Health Development Agency, Dr. Isioma Okobah, reaffirmed the commitment of the Okowa administration to meeting the health needs of the people of the state “through the provision of an efficient, quality and affordable healthcare programme.”

Okobah, who delivered a lecture on the essence of ‘Maternal and Newborn Child Health’, said the programme was an interventionist measure aimed at addressing critical health concerns of women and newborn children, adding that the objective was to reduce maternal mortality and childhood morbidity.

She listed other benefits of the exercise to include achieving high coverage and reducing inequities, strengthening routine Primary Health Care delivery system among others and encouraged mothers to always patronise Public Health facilities in their localities to address common ailments and enhance healthy living.

According to her, “We are committed to change the narrative for our rural dwellers by providing them good health facilities and providing them quality infrastructure in terms of health.”

The Delta State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nicholas Azinge, commended stakeholders and international donor agencies, including UNICEF, for their support towards achieving all-round health for the rural populace in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Highlight of the ceremony was the immunization of newborn children by the wife of the Governor, who is also the founder of “0-5 Initiative”, to the applause of the numerous participants.