HEALTH: Osun Donates Materials To Councils For Campaign Against Measles
As part of efforts to ensure healthy living condition among the populace in the State of Osun, the Aregbesola administration on Monday October 28, 2013 commissioned and donated health materials for integrated measles campaign to the 30 Local Government Council and Area Office in order to curb the spread of the disease.
At the commissioning ceremony held at the Ministry of Health, Abere, Osogbo, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Mrs Temitope Ilori, stressed the need for vaccination and immunization among children to help curtail the menace.
The materials donated were; measles vaccines, de-worming drug, vitamin C, mega phones among others. Ilori observed that good health care delivery to the people of the state regardless of their political affiliation is of utmost concern to the present administration, hence the need to visit the remote communities to help kick measles out of the state’’. According to Ilori, Over 10,000 personnel had been trained and recruited in the state and local government levels for the exercise.
The Health Commissioner noted that the flagging off exercise is expected to come up on November 2, while the sensitization programme ends by November 11. She urged the people of the state to come out en mass to support the government in kicking out measles.
In her welcome address, the State Immunization Officer, Mrs Ade Osun, urged the people of the state to embrace the opportunity, by volunteering themselves to be immunized when the exercise kicked off. Ade Osun said, the exercise is aimed at protecting children from nine months to five years, against the deadly disease in the state. She urged every member of the society to join in the crusade against measles, instead of staying indoors and dying of ignorance. The State Immunization Officer said ‘’prevention is better than cure’’, it is better to kick measles out before measles kick us out.
In another related development, the Commissioner for Health in Osun, Mrs Temitope Ilori, on Monday said, quick response to breast cancer, brings about quick recovery which helps to sustain life. Ilori made this disclosed this in an exclusive chat during the breast cancer screening exercise organized for women in the Federal Constituency.
Ilori stated that early discovery is the best way to cure such a deadly disease and the state government has put all machinery in motion to ensure that the screening exercise and treatment of victims are appropriately carried out’’.
The Medical Director of the State Hospital, Mr Ojo Idowu, said the present administration had really done a great job by ensuring sound healthcare delivery to its citizens. Idowu said, the State Hospital have the highest numbers of patients coming from neighboring states and trans-boarder patients for medical treatments. He commended the state government, for the upgrading and rehabilitation of the hospital Infrastructures, as he believes the health of the people is utmost priority to the government.
Speaking on behalf of other participants, Mrs Bashiratu Akibu, from Masakin’s compound Iwo said, the state government has really done a great thing for the people of Iwo that will surely save lives as the exercise continues. In her words: ”prevention is better than cure and the earlier the symptom is discovered, the better the chances of the patient recovering quickly.
The Commissioner seized the opportunity of the screening exercise to inspect the ongoing renovation at the hospital. Some of the visited units at the hospital include; Infant Welfare and Clinic, Ante-natal Clinic, Dental Clinic and the Kitchen among others.
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