Abia State National Orientation Agency, NOA and health officers have re-emphasized the need for those who have not taken their Covid 19 vaccines to do so now it is free.
Abia State Director of NOA, Dr Lady Ngozi Okechukwu said the challenges following COVID-19 pandemic must continue to be emphasized as it remains the biggest global challenge with long-lasting economic, human, educational, and social consequences.
Dr Okechukwu gave the advice during a one day Alliance Building Workshop for Market, Commercial and Vocational Associations in Abia State organised by National Orientation Agency, NOA Abia State and supported by UNICEF on the theme, UpTake of Covid 19 and the five Essential Practices held in Umuahia.
Dr Okechukwu
According to her, the objective of the meeting was to motivate the leaders of the selected bodies to galvanize their members for the uptake of the COVID-19 vaccines and the five essential family practices. Hence by the end of the meeting, she pointed out that each association will commit to specific actions that will help significantly improve the uptake of the COVID-19 vaccines within their association.
Her words “The specific actions resolved by each market association will be collated, followed up and tracked by the NOA program officer and therefore the need to build partnerships and alliances in order to develop the best practices and strategies to stem further spread of COVID 19”.
A director from Abia State primary Healthcare Development Agency, Mrs Meg Onwu urged the public to disregard those promoting false information about Covid 19. Mrs Onwu therefore, charged people to adhere to health instructions to end the spread of the disease and others.
Mrs Onwu further enjoined the associations to extend the message down to their various meetings, bearing in mind the dangers associated with virus that does not leave the air easily.
In another brief lecture, Mrs Chioma Okpara from Abia State primary Healthcare Development Agency disclosed that Abia recorded upto thirty four deaths due to Covid 19, while thousands of people survived because of treatment received at the isolation centres and efforts of government with partnering agents who assisted to manage those affected.
While acknowledging that Covid 19 vaccine saved alot of lives, Mrs Okpara stated that other viral diseases do not have drugs for treatment, which makes it difficult for people to survive. She added that the virus battles the immune system and overtakes the person when his or her immune is weak and described the vaccine as the Chief preventer.
She also said Nigeria has four vaccines available namely Astrazaneca, Modena, Pfizer and Johnson and Johnson, while Abia has two vaccines at hand.
program participants
On her part, the state baby friendly initiative officer, Mrs Chinwe Eke advised mother’s to approach health facility during pregnancy and more importantly take Tetanus toxoid (TT).
Mrs Eke maintained that pregnant mother’s gain a lot when they attend antenatal care, counseling on what to eat and the best way to breastfeed babies.
According to her, breast milk contains eighty percent of water, therefore, it is advisable for nursing mothers to embrace exclusive breastfeeding for six months.
He explained that children that enjoyed exclusive breastfeeding hardly succumb to diseases.
