On Saturday, Dr Nonye Soludo, the wife of Anambra State Governor, urged women in the state to abandon spending on “bleaching creams” and instead invest in “regular health checks and balanced diets.”
She highlighted the need for better immunization uptake and called on mothers to prioritize their children’s health and future.
Soludo made these remarks during the 2nd Anambra State Women’s Health Summit, hosted under her Healthy Living Initiative in partnership with the World Health Organization in Awka. She emphasized the critical role of immunization in protecting children from lifelong illnesses.
“I’m not happy to hear that our state is recording low in immunisation uptake. Mothers need to create time and take their children to health facilities to get them vaccinated.
“These childhood vaccines are free, safe and effective. Mothers should see immunisation as a top priority because when your child is healthy, you are free from stress and expenses experienced when a child is ill.
“Since Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration started the free antenatal and delivery policy, Anambra state is now one of the states with the lowest maternal mortality. We want to record the same in the area of immunisation too,” she said.
Soludo advised women to appreciate their God-given skin colour and shun spending so much on bleaching creams.
“Instead of spending so much on bleaching creams, women should spend more 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 coverage was gradually reducing in Anambra.
“The state government is doing so much in partnership with WHO to ensure availability of all the childhood vaccines across the health facilities but we are not happy that the uptake is low.
“These vaccines help to prevent acute paralysis, 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 the hospital for immunisation.
“Our mothers have a huge role to play in ensuring that children in Anambra are vaccinated. So, spread the message in your various communities to help our children live healthier and longer lives,” she said.
Dr. Mohamed Bonos, the Anambra Coordinator for WHO, commended the state government for creating a supportive environment and fostering partnerships that enhance residents’ health.
During the summit, Prof. Brian Adinma, a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, urged women to focus on their reproductive health.
Dr. Afam Obidike, the Commissioner for Health in Anambra, highlighted that the health summit reflected the state government’s commitment to the well-being of women and children.
NAN
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