By Anolu Vincent, Owerri
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has announced plans to stem rampant open defecation in some communities in Imo state to reduce the tide of such child killer diseases as cholera, dysentery, weeping cough, typhoid, fever, malaria, air and water borne diseases among children.
The State UNICEF Desk Officer Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mrs Igwe Violent stated this while speaking at the 2021 Edition of the August meeting of the women of Ndikpa-Umuduru Egbeaguru Autonomous Community held at the St. Philips Anglican Church, in the Onuimo local government area of the state.
Igwe noted that open defecation by some children and adults had continued to provoke both air and water borne diseases with disastrous consequences to families and the society at large, adding that the UNICEF would henceforth place a tab on all households in the state without conveniences.
She advised the women to always ensure vaccine immunization of their babies which is available at the health centres without any financial implication.
The UNICEF Desk Officer who spoke in tandem with the Coordinator of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in the area, Ukaegbu Chukwudi, stressed the importance of regular sanitation of homes including kitchens, toilets and business premises, just as she charged women to adhere strictly to established COVID-19 Safety Protocols by using sanitizers, face masks, maintenance of reasonable social distances wherever they are.
“Always wash your hands before and after eating and after visiting the toilet with soap” just as she listed symptoms of COVID-19 pandemic for their information and awareness.
Immunization is still on and if you miss it, go to the nearest health centre and for pregnant women, it is five times. The train is moving and if you fail to join it, it will keep on moving”.
Chairlady of the Home and Abroad Meeting of the women, Lady Chinwe Jideofor commended the UNICEF and NOA for their sustained interest in the welfare of women and children and assured that they would remain receptive to the message given to them.
Uche Nwosu is a two time Shell Petroleum PLC award winner in the year 2000;
He won the Shell Award on Investigative Journalism and Environmental Cleanliness.
