by crossriverwatch admin
The Director, Primary Health and Disease Control, Ministry of Health, Cross River State, Dr. John Odok has lauded members of International Association of Lions Club, Cross River District 5 and 6 for their sensitization and for galvanizing support in the Southern states for the measles vaccination program for children under 5 years.
He made the commendation at the flag off of the vaccination program held at Community Health Centre Adiabo Ikot Mbo Otu in Odukpani Local Government Area of the State.
The vaccination exercise is scheduled to end on November 6, 2013 across the southern states of the country.
He said, “Posterity will not forgive us if the effort by Lions Club is not commended, it is pertinent to note that measles is a deadly disease that kills hundreds of innocent children.
“Last year in the state there was measles epidemic in four LGAs of the state namely: Bakassi, Yala, Akpabuyo and Calabar Municipality which is a situation the state government never wants to re occur again.”
Dr. Odok enjoined other humanitarian groups to emulate Lions Club and reiterated government’s willingness to partner with all and sundry in combating all the killer diseases.
Earlier, the Region 6 Chair who doubles as a Chief Magistrate in the State, Lion Chief Magistrate Catherine Ephraim noted that “This program is a way of sharing and showing the society that to get to the promise land we must have a healthy child because children are the leaders of tomorrow which makes the fight, a fight for all.
“The future of Cross River hovers around the crop of children we have because measles and other killer diseases are destructive pigment that must be brought under control with all hands on deck.”
The Magistrate encouraged all parents to avail their children and/or ward for this and subsequent health exercise.
On his part, the Region 5 Chair, Lion Chief Ene Mkpang Cobham asserted that the initiative is an integral approach towards supporting the Ministry of Health in actualizing the Millennium Development Goals adding that it is part of Lion’s corporate social responsibility to make the society a better place for all.
The Chief Community Health Officer of the Community Health Centre, Mrs. Offiong Bassey Edem also commended the club for their mobilization support.
She said, “The exercise in just one day, that is today we have successfully immunized about a hundred and thirty children courtesy of Lions Club because last year it took us over a day to record such success,” she maintained.
Speaking to CrossRiverWatch, Mrs. Eka-Ete Uwem Nyong one of the mothers who got her child immunized said she is happy for successfully immunizing her child free and at her own convenience and she prayed for God’s blessings on all those who made it possible.
The club also gave out T-Shirts, Note Books Pencils, Bobo drinks and Cheese Balls to children that were immunized.
follow us on twitter @crossriverwatch
Leave feedback about this