by crossriverwatch admin
In a concerted effort to increase awareness among stakeholders on pneumonia which is responsible for over one million deaths among children annually in Nigeria, the Cross River State Government has organized a charity concert, tagged “Governor’s Masked Fete” to raise funds in support of the course.
Speaking at the concert, which is one of the programmes of the on-going 32-Day Calabar Festival and a pet project of Mrs. Obioma Liyel Imoke, the Acting Governor, Mr. Efiok Cobham, said the prevalence of the disease was unacceptable especially in a state that is giving free medicare to children under five years and pregnant women.
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Mike Aniah, the acting governor lauded the initiator of the charity concert, Mrs. Obioma Liyel Imoke, for conceptualizing the idea, stating that the effort will go a long way in eradicating the disease and free children, who are the future hope of the state from untimely death.
The acting governor stressed that a preventable disease like pneumonia cannot be allowed to blight the future of children and that government will not rest on its oars until it is totally eradicated in the state.
He thanked donor partners for their support and solicited for more assistance to surpass the current effort at all levels.
Initiator of the Non-Government Organization (NGO), and wife of the Governor of Cross River State, Mrs. Obioma Liyel Imoke, disclosed that she took up the campaign three years ago when one of her children got ill and was diagnosed of pneumonia and that while in the hospital, she saw another child die of the same sickness.
She maintained that the burden of that child’s death prompted her to initiate a platform that will scout for support from all and sundry to save lives.
Represented by Executive Director, Partnership Opportunity for Women Economic Realization (POWER) an umbrella body of Breath of Life, Mrs. Tami Kamonke, she stated that the concert, which had as its theme, “Old School”, was organized to create more awareness and raise fund to support the cause.
Director Breath of Life, Dr. Regina Ejemot-Nwadiro, said the theme of this year’s concert, “Old School” was not only to allow guest display their old school dresses but to reminisce on the old value of being a brother’s keeper.
She maintained that the fight against pneumonia can only be successful through a joint effort of all the stakeholders and urged all to rise to their responsibility of ensuring that Cross River is indeed safe for every child irrespective of socio, cultural, economic and religious background.
One of the major sponsors of the event, First Bank (Nig) PLC, represented by Executive Director, Mr. U. K. Eke, reiterated the willingness to support the cause, noting that their support was a demonstration of their commitment to ensuring a healthy society.
Also speaking, the Corporate Affairs Manager, UNICEM, Mr. Charles Inyang, said as a responsible organization, the company is committed to the education, health and safety of its publics, insisting that the fight against pneumonia will be surmounted when all the stakeholders pull their resources together.
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