Impact Assessment Programme Reduces Killer Diseases Among Children in Ondo-
By Olusegun HOSEA
The Ondo State Primary Health Care Agency has carried out a community engagement impact assessment programme that has reduced killer diseases among children in Ondo State, using the championship sample among the good people, of the Ikare Akoko.. The programme was held at the auditorium of the Ikare Akoko Primary Health Care, Okoja.
In her early address, Dr. Ige Rhoda, the head of the health care centre, welcomed the people to the programme. According to her, the people of the community had been cooperating with them by bringing their children for immunization, family planning, and other health care services. She thanked them for giving them an enabling environment to operate. She said most of the diseases that had been killing children before, due to the lack of hospitals and other health service facilities, could now be addressed due to the establishment of the modern health care facility in the community.
In another development, the Permanent Secretary of the Ondo State Primary Health Care Agency, Dr. Francis Akanbiemu, ably represented by the Director of Nutrition in the Agency, Dr. (Mrs.) Kikelomo Adejuwon, said the purpose of the community engagement was to assess the impact of the programme on the children in the community. According to her, the beneficiaries of the programme include the children and the women. She also said the programme had provided some modern facilities and also upgraded the health facility of the health centre.
The impact assessment programme offers the women some health benefits, such as free immunization and drugs for one ailment or the other. The impact assessment programme was commended by the community people for the good services the staff offered to them, as they always attended to them whenever the need arose.
The family planning issue was also brought up for discussion by the organization to champion the opinion of the championship sample (The Champion Sample are those who follow the health appointment dates given to them by health practitioners without missing their appointments, which qualifies them for gifts) to know the effectiveness of the service in their bodies and also to enquire whether their beliefs are against the programme or not. The response from the audience was that family planning was well embraced by them, as the advantages were more than the negative effects. According to them, family planning enables them to space their children and also prevents unwanted pregnancy among women. The women, however, appreciated the organizers of the impact assessment programme because the programme was beneficial to their families.
The women were advised to patronize trained birth attendants whenever they want to give birth and to always patronize government health care facilities for the immunization of their children. They were also encouraged to cultivate the habit of giving their children exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and thereafter continue for two years and above in order to make the children healthier.
The Director of Nutrition, Mrs. Adejuwon Kikelomo, read out some of the criteria used in selecting the Champion Sample, which include faithfulness and consistency in family planning and currently being on a family planning method. Family planning spacing for children were also among the criteria used for the selection of the Champion Sample. The various categories included Family Planning Champion, Health Facility Delivery Champion, and Immunization Champion Sample categories. Each Champion Sample received awards and other financial benefits.
The representative of the Olukare of Akoko, Chief Elemeje Okela of Ikare, thanked the organizers and prayed that the people would live long to see their children grow. He appreciated the good work of the health workers and prayed that God would continue protecting them. He also appreciated the good work of the government in providing health facilities for the people. He testified to the prompt services rendered by the nurses working in the hospital.
In his address, the Chairman of Akoko North East Local Government, Hon. Mutiu Olawale, ably represented by Suleiman Adetona, the Supervisor for Health, appreciated the local government executives for giving their local government the opportunity to benefit from the health programme. He also appreciated the leadership of each ward for coming to the programme.
He said the government does not handle the issue of health with levity, and that was why the government had intensified its efforts in providing good health services to the people. He therefore advised the people to continue patronizing the health facilities in their wards, as most of the drugs in those health centres cost the government a lot of money. He advised them to visit the facilities regularly so that the drugs would not expire.
