Ishola Michael – Bauchi
Executive Chairman of the Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (BASPHCDA), Dr Rilwanu Mohammed has stressed the need for proactive measures in the fight against infectious diseases spread within the communities.
Rilwanu Mohammed made the assertion while speaking at a one-day advocacy engagement meeting with traditional rulers and community leaders on prevention of infectious diseases funded by WaterAid Nigeria and implemented by an NGO, Women Development Association for Self Sustenance (WODASS) held on Thursday at Hazibal Suites, Yelwa Road, Bauchi.
The Executive Chairman of BASPHCDA stressed that traditional rulers and community leaders have significant roles to play in achieving the set objectives of health within the communities considering the central role they occupy.
He further stressed that there is the need to always pause and reflect on the present situation of things in the communities in order to be able to know what has been done earlier which can be done differently to achieve the set objectives of a healthy society.
Represented by the Deputy Director, Disease Control and Immunization of the Agency, Haruna B. Wakili, the BASPHCDA EC called on the traditional rulers and community leaders to join hands to ensure that health indices in the communities improved.
He concluded by appealing that with the 2023 General elections now over, the next thing is for all hands to be on deck for development and progress because according to him, without such collaboration, nothing meaningful can be done.
He then assured that the Agency will continue to collaborate with all relevant agencies and NGOs in the promotion of primary healthcare services among members of the community to achieve a healthy society.
Also speaking, the HOD, Inspections of Bauchi State Environmental Protection Agency (BASEPA), Haruna Suleiman said that the meeting was very important in achieving a healthy society because the traditional rulers and the community leaders have said among the communities.
Haruna Suleiman said that the importance of WASH issues cannot be overemphasised because it is the basis of living due to the fact that life itself revolves around the basic issues of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).
He, however, lamented that people have since abandoned the COVID-19 protocol of social distancing, washing hands and wearing face masks a development that has increased the rate of spreading of infectious diseases.
Magaji Barde of WODASS had earlier said that the meeting was aimed at sensitizing the traditional rulers and community leaders on the need for them to redouble efforts in mobilizing their people on the need to adopt healthy environment through keeping proactive measures.
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