Governor Sullivan
Chime of the eastern Nigerian state of Enugu was conspicuously missing on
Thursday at the burial rites for the literary icon, Chinua Achebe in the
neighbouring Anambra state.
The Governor did not
also attend the Church service and the burial in Achebe’s family compound in
Ogidi, setting tongues wagging about his health.
On the same day,
Chime, battling with cancer of the nose, also sent his commissioner for health
to represent him at an event in Nsukka, where the council launched maternal and
new born health week.
There, Chime’s
representative, Dr. Fidelis Ugwu conveyed the Governor’s message, calling on
mothers to take immunisation of their children more seriously.
Chime also urged
traditional rulers and other stakeholders to assist the state to achieve its
objectives in child immunisation and maternal health care.
“Mothers are advised to
take their children of between one year and five years to the nearest health
centres for free treatment and gifts from today till five days the week will
last.
“As traditional
rulers of your communities, always ensure that information on immunisation gets
to every part of your community.
“With healthy
children and mothers, we will have healthy and productive nation,’’ he said
Chime commended the
Chairman of the local government, Mr Tony Ugwu, for employing more than 200
health workers as well as distributing free drugs to health centres in the
area.
“It is in line with
the state’s vision to ensure that adequate health care is provided for all
residents. With adequate health care, infant and maternal mortality will be
reduced to the minimum.
“The aim of the week
is to ensure that mothers and children who are the most vulnerable groups are
given adequate attention,” he said.
The UNICEF Assistant
Representative in Enugu State, Mr Charles Nzuki, said the week was endorsed by
the National Council on Health at Asaba three years ago, with the aim of
delivering an integrated high impact maternal, new born and child
interventions.
He said UNICEF was
delighted with the high level of commitment shown by the state in delivering
robust health services for children, mothers and pregnant women in the state.
“The overall goal is
to provide access to prevention and promotion of healthcare for mothers, new
born and pregnant women,” he said
Some 500 pregnant and
nursing mothers from different areas attended the ceremony at the Government
Field, Nsukka
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