INFANT MORTALITY AND MATERNAL MORBIDITY ON THE INCREASE IN THE SOUTH EAST — NOA

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) with support from UNICEF is sensitizing women in Imo state on the need for antenatal care and routine immunization of children to improve their health.

Addressing members of the Catholic Women Organization at Maria Assumpta Cathedral Owerri and Ahiazu Mbaise, the Director of NOA in the state, Mr. Vitus Ekeocha, expressed regret that many children under the age of five often died of vaccine-preventable diseases due to carelessness of parents.

Mr. Ekeocha said available records indicated that cases of maternal mortality and infant morbidity had continued to increase, especially in the south east geopolitical zone, despite efforts geared towards addressing the situation.

He identified exclusive breastfeeding, routine immunization and good hygiene as some of the essential practices that would help to reduce chances of children getting exposed to diseases.

Mr. Ekeocha explained that the agency had mapped out strategies to reach out to women across the state to educate them on how to prevent mother to child transmission of HIV and put an end to open defecation.

The State Health Educator, Ministry of Health Owerri, Mrs. Chinwe Abanobi, said a second dose of measles vaccine had been introduced for children between fifteen and twenty-three months old.

She appealed to mothers and caregivers to take their children to health centres from the November 14, 2019 to immunize their babies against measles.

The president Catholic Women Organization (CWO) Maria Assumpta Parish Cathedral Owerri, Mrs. Chinelo Ezeani, and her counterpart in St. Jude’s Parish Amuzi in Ahiazu Mbaise, Mrs. Bennedict Egbuhuzor, described the message as timely.

They promised to transmit the lessons learnt to others who were not privileged to attend the event.

CHINAZO ILECHUKWU