by By Simon Ushie
The Obong of Calabar, His Eminence Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu v has lauded the Cross River State Governor, Senator Ben Ayade for his proactive nature and health intervention programs in the state as he gave his full Endorsement to the forth coming Meningitis vaccination exercise .
The Obong made this known when the state social mobilization team led by the Director General of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency Dr Janet Ekpenyong paid him a courtesy visit in his palace to seek for his Endorsement on the forthcoming state wide Immunization service for meningitis slated for December 4th – 10th(plus 2 days).
The Obong noted that raising a healthy society is of concern to everyone hence the need to regularly raise awareness on killer diseases which over the years have contributed to the rising indices of mortality.
He therefore called on all parents especially mothers to present their children and wards for Immunization in designated health facilities in their Communities While also charging members of his advisory council to lend their voices before, during and even after the forth coming state wide vaccination to help obtain optimal result.
“As far as health is concerned, it is of primay interest to our people and l’m happy that the state Government have taken the health sector seriously to keep our people healthy and to make sure that you have gone round the whole state to take care of our people.
I’m happy that in this state, there is no full blown health concern that is because of your proactive nature. Today I want to lend my voice to make all parents especially mothers to take their children all out especially those between the ages of 1-5 years old so we can put an end to the scourge of meningitis in our state and country.
The state Government has done everything possible to curb it and in two years from now, we must work to record 0% of vaccine preventable diseases in our state”.
Speaking earlier, the Director General of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Janet Ekpenyong thanked the Obong and the Royal fathers for their supports in the actualization of various health interventions in the state.
Dr Ekpenyong noted that, through the pragmatic efforts of the Obong, the state was able to record improve indices and compliance in immunization services which helped in the elimination of Poliomyelitis in the state and the country at large.
She therefore used the opportunity to reaffirm the His Excellency, Senator Prof Ben Ayade’s desire in improving the lives of Cross Riverians as she stated that no Community and child will be left unattended to in the forth coming exercise.
The 2020 supplementary vaccination for meningitis is slated for December 4th-10th 2020(plus 2 days) across the 18 LGAs in the state with a targeted population of 800,000 children within the age bracket of 1-5 years .
She encouraged caregivers to bring out their children as stated that Immunization is safe, free and Effective.
Also in the team were the Secretary of the Primary Healthcare board, the State Social Mobilization Officer, Nsa Ekpenyong amongst others.
