Anambra State Deputy Governor, Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim, says partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, and other donor agencies in many sectors will help save lives and respond promptly to emergencies.
Dr. Ibezim was speaking at the handover of emergency supplies from the UNICEF to Anambra State Government for post-flood intervention in communities in seven local government areas of the state.
It would be recalled that thirty-five states were devastated by flood this year; with over seven local government areas being the worst hit in Anambra.
The flood also caused the collapse of infrastructure, including public and private buildings, ravaged farm lands, thereby destroyed people’s sources of livelihood.
Dr. Ibezim explained that donations from UNICEF and other donor agencies will ensure effective response to the acute healthcare needs of the people in the affected communities, and called on all the Commissioners, Transition Committee Chairmen, Presidents General of various communities in the state, among others, to join hands in order to alleviate the sufferings of the people in the affected areas.
He commended UNICEF and other donor agencies for their timely interventions, calling for more assistance to ameliorate the plights of the people affected by the flooding, even as he restated the state government’s commitment to finding permanent solution to the menace.
At the handover of the emergency supplies in Awka,UNICEF Field Officer, Mrs Juliet Chiluwe-Chilemba, said the body is working with the Anambra State Government to provide medical services and strengthen disease surveillance across the seven affected local government areas to ensure timely response to any disease outbreak.
While thanking the state government and other partners for their concerns, the UNICEF Field Officer noted that UNICEF is concerned about the health of the people affected by the flood, especially children under five years, and explained that healthcare facilities in the affected areas were used as holding centres, while immunization exercises were carried out to protect the children from contacting diseases.
Dignitaries at the event include the Executive Secretary, Anambra State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, Chief Paul Odenigbo, Commissioner for Power and Minerals Resources, Engineer Julius Chukwuemeka, as well as the Commissioners for Women and Social Welfare, Mrs Ify Obinabo.
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