28th January, 2011
It was the gathering of nursing mothers and their babies when health officials from Olorunda Local Council Development Area of Lagos State were hosted by the regent of Mowo town, High Chief Phillips Ajose recently.
The event, which was to round off the Round of Maternal Newborn and Child Health programme, had in attendance, the council chiefs, youths and residents of the area, was put together by the state government through the local council health office to sensitise women on the need to take proper care of their health most especially when under conception.
Drawing from the theme, Partnering for Improved Nutrition for the Mother and Child, the health officials led by Kenny Ajibowo, intimated the nursing mothers of the services available at the Primary Health Care facility nearest to them where, according to him, their children could be immunised against diseases like poliomyelitis, tuberculosis, diphtheria, tetanus, whopping cough, hepatitis, measles and yellow fever, stressing that immunising them is the best way of protecting these children from some childhood killer diseases caused by germs. The administration of these drugs, she revealed, could either be by injection or drops into the mouth of the children.
Ajibowo told the audience that it is pertinent that every new born child be taken to the nearest health facility for vaccination since it is free, safe and effective, noting that it takes only five of such visits to the health facility within their baby’s first year to complete the immunisation programme.
The health officials also took the expectant mothers through a well programmed lecture on how they should take care of themselves from pregnancy to delivery state and the necessity that they get registered at the primary health facility in their neighbourhood.
The need to breast feed their babies for a considerable long period that should not be less than six months was also emphasised at the event.
Chief Phillips thanked the health officials for taking time out to educate those present and enjoined beneficiaries to take advantage of what they have been instructed about and use them optimally.
