Michael Ovat – Awka
Health workers with the Anambra Anambra State Government have said that various medical interventions by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), have reduced gastroenteritis in the State, especially amongst children.
Nigerian Tribune learned that Gastroenteritis is a very common condition that causes diarrhoea and vomiting. It’s usually caused by a bacterial or viral tummy bug. It affects people of all ages but is particularly common in young children.
One of the health workers in Charge of the Primary Health Centre, Amansea in Awka North Local Government Area of the State, Mrs. Obi Testimony disclosed the reduction of the ailment in the state, during the ongoing UNICEF medical outreach programme sponsored by Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF).
She said the mortality rate of babies suffering from diarrhea and vomiting had reduced following the introduction of vaccines, sponsorship of outreaches, health talks, among others.
She said, “Before UNICEF came, the turnout of women was not as it is now. There are so many things UNICEF introduced that boost their morale, including distribution of ‘pluses’ like biscuits, soaps and noodles.
“After receiving the ‘pluses’, the women happily go back to their places of abode and share their stories with others who have not been coming to immunize their children.
“Again, due to increasing number of women in our facility, we now carry out immunisation for children weekly unlike before when it was only twice a month.
“More importantly, the mortality rate of babies under one year has also reduced drastically due to introduction of oral vaccines for diarrhea prevention among children.
“We used to have large numbers of children suffering from diarhea and vomiting. But since this year, we’ve not recorded any of such cases among babies under one or five.”
Earlier, Local Immunisation Officer, Awka North, Mrs. Gloria Okpete disclosed that the 5-day outreach would cover 10 Local Government Areas of the state ravaged by 2022 flood disaster.
She said scores of persons had attended the outreach programme within two days of the exercise which would cover 14 wards in the Area Council.
She said, “We’re administering integrated vaccines for COVID-19, measles and other diseases. We also organizing health talks for the women on how to take proper care of their children.”
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