UNICEF Desk Officer, Anambra Ministry of Information and Public Enlightenment, Mrs. Chineze George-Ileka says UNICEF is concerned about reducing mother and child mortality and morbidity rates.
Mrs. George-Ileka who stated this during a forum aimed at creating awareness on Essential family practices, EFPs at Nise, Awka South local government area noted that women and children were agents of change hence the training to enable them to change the narrative of failure to that of breath-taking success in their communities.
She emphasized that personal, family and community cleanliness would promote good health that is essential for growth and development.
The desk officer noted that people were always in a hurry to eat whatever come their way without properly washing their hands pointing out that most illnesses and deaths are caused by germs that get into the mouth through food, unsafe water and dirty hands.
Mrs. George-Ileka while saying that unhealthy practices constituted ninety per cent health challenges in the world, advocate proper hygiene practices as a prerequisite to healthy living.
Anambra State Hygiene Promotion Officer Dr Rose Amasiani, decried the attitude of those who defecate on open surfaces and dump refuse indiscriminately, which constitute health hazards saying that toilet is the safest place to throw away faeces to avoid spread of disease.
She urged all families to have good pit toilet, pour-flush or water system in their homes and called for thorough washing of hands using soap or ash under running water as necessary after contact with faeces and cleaning up babies’ buttocks before feeding children.
A Health Educator, Mrs. Scholar Okoli said that women have rights to healthcare, especially during pregnancy and childbirth.
Lecture materials on basic health information on maternal, newborn and child health ,MNCH, and facts for life were handed over to leaders of communities visited by the UNICEF Desk Officer namely Ezira, Nnewi, Obosi, Neni and Nise.
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