The Bayelsa government has commended WHO, UNICEF, Rotary International and other partners for their supportive role in promoting improved healthcare services in the state.

The deputy governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, made the commendation on Friday, when he launched the State Immunisation Plus Days (SIPDs) and Routine Immunisation Intensification Campaign at Otuokpoti Community in Ogbia Local Government Area (LGA).

Mr Ewhrudjakpo attributed the state’s success story in the health sector in recent years to the effective collaboration between Bayelsa and its development partners.

He called on religious bodies and residents to make their children available for immunisation.

He said that the Gov. Douye Diri-led administration would continue to invest in the health and general wellbeing of Bayelsa people.

He urged parents to ensure that their young girls took the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) to prevent themselves from cancer disease.

He expressed concern that the prevalence rate of cancer was on the increase in the country.

Addressing some of the issues raised at the ceremony,  Mr Ewhrudjakpo promised that the government would sustain its war against fake drugs and expired consumable goods to safeguard the health of the people.

He lauded local government chairmen, particularly that of Ogbia, Golden Jeremiah, for supporting immunisation campaigns.

He announced that the launch of such programmes would henceforth be carried out in the different LGAs.

Mr Ewhrudjakpo said: “I want to encourage our peoplec to come out en masse and take part in the exercise.

“Apart from the polio vaccine, we also have the malaria and HPV vaccines.

“Our mothers should know that it is always cheaper to have their children immunised against malaria and protect the child from malaria disease for about five years than not to immunise them.

“For our young girls, I want you know that cancer is rampaging and destroying our women at an alarming rate due to so many factors.

“So, we also want to encourage you to come out for the HPV vaccine.

“But let me also, once again, thank our development partners in the health sector, such as WHO, UNICEF, Rotary International.

“I also thank our LGA chairmen for their effective collaboration and support that has enabled us to record appreciable achievements,” the deputy governor said.

In a remark, the commissioner for health, Seiyefa Brisibe, said that the decision to rotate the venue of the launch from LGA to LGA was to help educate rural dwellers on the importance of immunisation as well as achieve their buy-in.

Ms Brisibe thanked the governor and his deputy for providing leadership to ensure the actualisation of the present administration’s vision of having a robust healthcare system to increase the life expectancy of the people.

Also, the Obanobhan of Ogbia Kingdom, King Charles Dumaro-Owaba, acknowledged the Bayelsa government’s development efforts, but urged it to tackle the issue of fake drugs and expired goods in the state frontally.

Mr Dumaro-Owaba was represented at the event by the paramount ruler of Anyama-Ogbia, Sopana Amakiri-Agala.

In separate goodwill messages, the state chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev. Fr. Joseph Opelema, a representative of the Muslim Community, Rasheeda 

Abdulkareem, the woman leader of Ogbia Brotherhood, Love Amaseimogha, pledged support for the campaigns on behalf of their various groups.

Others who delivered goodwill messages at the event included the state coordinator of WHO, Ntiense Omoette, a representative of Rotary International, Ebitimitula Ogola, her UNICEF counterpart, Godswill Anthony, and Nzideka Anene of the state chapter of Paediatric Association of Nigeria.

The highlight of the event was the administration of oral polio vaccine to some children by the commissioner for health and chairman of Ogbia LGA. 

(NAN)