by crossriverwatc admin
Out of every five children who die in Nigeria two die from pneumonia which makes it the number one killer disease in the country.
This revelation was made by Mrs Obioma Imoke, wife of the Cross River State governor on Tuesday in Calabar while speaking at the World Pneumonia Day.
She said the number of children killed by pneumonia is higher than those killed by other killer diseases like HIV/Aids, Diarrhea and measles combined which makes it the most dreadful of all the killer diseases.
“People say the silent killer is hypertension but if you ask me I should say the silent killer is pneumonia because it kills very fast and does not care whether you are a man, woman, rich or poor so we must join hands to fight the scourge”.
The Governor’s wife said the number of children who die of pneumonia infection every year is higher than five jumbo jets filled with people crashing at the same period therefore the urgent need to fight and eliminate the carnage because the disease is preventable.
Mrs. Imoke said last year she sought the help of Pfizer Pharmaceutical Company which gave 1000 doses of pneumonia vaccines used in immunizing children in Bekwara local government council but owing to the high cost of the vaccine, the state government has not been able to follow up on the vaccination exercise.
“Let everyone who can make a contribution towards the vaccination of the children against pneumonia do and you children tell your parents to take you to where you can be immunized against the infection” she admonished.
She warned mothers not to heed the advice of any pastor or faith based agency which seeks to stop them from seeking medical attention for their children or ward because even Jesus Christ believes in medical care.
“When Jesus mixed saliva with mud which he rubbed on the eyes of the blind man and healed him, that was medicine, so let nobody fool you that medicine is evil”
Bishop Joseph Edra Ukpo, the Metropolitan Arch Bishop of Calabar Emeritus and Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, in Cross River State said the church has a vital role to play in the health of the people because a congregation that is sick will not listen to the pastor or participate actively in church work.
He called on churches and faith based organizations to enlighten their members on the importance of seeking adequate medical assistance to keep their body and souls active. “The spirit works in an active body so it is important to keep the body healthy through adequate medical care”.
Professor Angela Oyo Ita, the Cross River State Commissioner for Health said the state has over 800 health care centers spread across the state to ensure that people of the state do not have to trek long distances to seek for medical care so that they remain healthy.
“Governor Liyel Imoke cares so much about the people that is why he is investing so much to provide health care facilities in every ward of the state so take advantage of it even if you are HIV positive, drugs would stop its spread and keep you strong and safeguard the spread to your baby if you are a mother”.
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