Anambra, UNICEF hold health hygiene sensitisation campaigns at Enugwu-Ukwu

Mon, Oct 1, 2018 | By publisher


Health

The people of Enugwu-Ukwu, Njikoka Local Government Area have been urged to adopt positive behavioural change in their lives and environment in order to maintain healthy lifestyle.

Chineze George-Ileka, the UNICEF desk officer, Ministry of Information and Public Enlightenment, made the call at Enugwu-Ukwu Civic Centre during sensitisation of the community on healthy hygiene habits by Anambra UNICEF team.

George-Ileka, who led the team, noted that healthy hygiene habits which include cleanliness of the body and surroundings, proper hand washing, stoppage of open defecation and healthy food intake would help to prevent diseases and deaths.

“You don’t need perfume to smell good. Let us learn to do the right thing always, to keep our bodies and surroundings clean.

“With that, we can get rid of flies and other causes of diseases,” she admonished.

She enjoined the people to avoid indiscriminate waste disposal and ensure immediate evacuation of the refuse bins, whenever they were filled up.

The UNICEF Desk Officer, however, enjoined them to know their HIV status as well as adopt self-control as measures toward preventing diseases.

Rose Amasiani, the Anambra State Hygiene educator, explored the various kinds of hygiene management to include personal, environmental, food, safe water chain and menstrual hygiene.

She urged the people to bathe at least twice daily and strive cleaning all the public areas thoroughly and ensure proper hand washing with soap or ash before eating.

Oluchi Nwankwo, a state sanitation officer, Rural and Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, RUWASSA, called on the people to avoid indiscriminate defecation as that would make them to eat their faeces indirectly.

She enjoined every household to have functional toilet facility.

Scholastica Okoli, the Anambra State Health educator, pleaded with pregnant women to patronise health centres for antenatal and deliveries instead of traditional birth attendants.

She noted that with antenatal checks, the women would be provided with prenatal drugs and given treated insecticidal nets.

Okoli also stressed the importance of exclusive breast feeding and routine immunisation.

“Exclusive breast feeding prevents bleeding after delivery and helps in family planning.

“The colostrums contain antibodies that will protect a child against diseases and infections for life.’’

Uzoamaka Eriken, the state nutritionist, urged the people to interchange the six classes of food in their daily diets.

Igwe Ralph Ekpe, traditional ruler of Enugwu-Ukwu, who was represented by Clem Nwafor (Odu Nkataukwu), commended the group for the visit saying that good hygiene would sustain healthy living.

He urged his people, especially the women to pass the message across to those who were not present.

Bonny Ozonkwoaku, the president-general, Enugwu-Ukwu, enjoined his people to effect all that they had learnt starting with their families as charity begins at home.

Fidelia Okafor, the woman leader, Enugwu-Ukwu, promised to convey the message to other women during their Town Hall meeting.

– Oct. 1, 2018 @ 17:49 GMT |

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