The reverently concluded maternal and newborn week has recorded a tremendous improvement resulting in over 800,000 children and mothers receiving immunization as well as other vaccines, across the 18 local government areas of the state.
The exercise was flagged off at the headquarters of Abi local government area of the state, by the State Deputy Governor, Barrister Efiok Cobham, representing Governor Liyel Imoke.
Governor Imoke commended the immunisation exercise saying that it had made giant strides in the effective implementation of the immunisation scheme and other health related programmes like HIV/AIDS campaign.
This development, he said, has accounted for the state’s recent winning of the leadership award for the south-south states instituted by Bill Gates Foundation for 2012.
According to him, this indeed is in recognition of “our giant strides in health and commitment to the wellbeing of our people,” noting that the immunization campaign was for the administration of vaccines, antigens, vitamin ‘A’ capsules, and abendozoles to enhance the immunity of the children of the state and to keep them healthy.
He said government will continue to mobilize resources to sustain the maternal newborn and child week celebration in the state.
In her remarks, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Angela Oyo-Ita, reminded the mothers that the state government has not cancel the led free medical treatment for mothers and their babies.
She urged mothers to make use of the free medical services in all the health facilities in the state, adding that “we will defeat the purpose of this event if mothers do not get the services free. She warned health workers to desist from collecting money, adding that “quality service will pay you. Please let us stop these shabby businesses and give mothers free health services as directed by the state government.”
The State Immunization Officer, Mrs. Patricia Ebam, described the turn out of mothers with their babies as very impressive and rewarding. She said that the immunization exercise took place in health centres, hospitals, schools, colleges and other designated places.
The UNICEF officer in charge of Cross River State, Mr. Ephraim Chukwu, said during the week, extensive coverage of the State was undertaken including in the hinterland. He said the health officers were able to access the terrain with the aid of UNICEF team to ensure that there was no discrimination among the children in urban and rural areas.
