The Zamfara State Primary Health Care Board in conjunction with state ministry of Health and partners have performed this year’s Bi-annual Healthy Baby Show with sensitization on viral hepatitis B prevention in the state.
Similarly, award was presented to children, fully immunized within nine months of birth and observed exclusive breast feeding in the state.
The event was held at the Dr. Karima Women and Children Welfare Hospital Tudun Wada in Gusau, state capital.
Speaking during the occasion, the commissioner for health Aliyu Abubakar MC said the Healthy Baby show was organized to present awards to children who received complete doses of the required immunizations and observed exclusive breast feeding.
Aliyu M.C who was represented by the Executive Secretary zamfara State Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Isma’il Tukur said the present administration was determined to bring health care services to the door steps of the citizens.
“There is need to take advantage of such services in order to get rid of preventable diseases that continue to constitute threat to living among people”.
He said the national policy on health has prescribed the integration of other health services during the conduct of any activity and making it one plan, one budget as a means of reducing wastage.
The Commissioner further added that the essence of viral Hepatitis B was to protect those that are not infected through vaccination while those infected be identified and hold against tendency of progression to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.
According to him,19 million cases of Hepatitis B infection are recorded in Nigeria affecting both aged and under 5 children, which is alarming and source of worry.
He stressed that mother to child transmission is key agent of contracting the disease.
“Women of child bearing age and under 5 children are targeted with immunization against the disease which kills more than HIV and road accidents”.
He called on parents and caregivers to ensure that their children were immunized and tasked them to go for screening against Hepatitis viral in order to know their status for quick response.
Earlier, the Gusau Local Government sole administrator who was represented by his Deputy Sirajo Ibrahim Magami assured the council readiness to invest more on health care delivery services.
He enjoined people in the area and the state in general to support and encourage the services provided by the ministry of health and primary health care board through active participation in all the health programmes.
The occasion was witnessed by Kulu Sanda of UNICEF, Programme Manager State Emergency Routine Immunization Coordination Center, Mustapha Alinkilo, Dr. Musa Yakubu of Federal Medical Center Gusau and Director Community and Family Services Bello Maccido.
