Enugu State Primary Healthcare Development Agency has urged mothers to always immunize their children as and when due to avoid childhood killer diseases.
It also advised people to observe the COVID-19 protocols to curtail the spread of COVID-19.
Executive Secretary of the agency, Dr George Ugwu made the call at
a One-Day media sensitisation workshop on Measles and COVID-19 Awareness Campaign held in Enugu.
Ugwu said that the call has become necessary because the measle cases in the state are on the rise, disclosing that in 2019, 373 cases were recorded in the state and between January and July, 2020, 233 cases were already recorded. He said that 25 children of under five years were reported dead.
He said measles signs and symptoms include running nose, cough, watery eyes, small white spots inside the cheek like small grain of salt and on a red base.
According to him, measles is spread following contacts with noses and throat secretions of infected people, inhalation of airborne droplets and spreads easily where Infants and children gather together especially in overcrowded and dirty environments. He added that immunization with measles vaccines is the cheapest and that most effective means of prevention.
Speaking on COVOD-19, the Executive Secretary said that the agency had carried out a massive sensitisation campaign on COVID-19, adding that they trained stakeholders, traditional birth attendants, , Chemists, Ward Development chairmen and after the training, they were provided with face masks, Veronica buckets, sanitizer and other personal protection equipment. they needed to work with. He urged people to keep to the COVID-19 protocols so as to contain the spread of the disease.
He also called for community support, noting that, “This is not time for mass gathering, wedding and co”.
Ugwu advised mothers to immunize their children as at when due, saying that the health centres in the state were not closed. He also appealed for additional hands, more medical personnel.
On his part, a director in the agency, Mr Ezeh, said that over 150 people in the community were trained on COVID-19. He said that the fight against COVID-19 is a collective effort.
Ugwu, however, lamented that “enforcement is the issue”
Earlier in his opening remarks, the the Acting Director, Community Health Services and Social Mobilisation, Mr Fabian Nebo, gave an overview of measles and that of the COVID-19 pandemic.
