Measles, unhealthy living and violence against children are receiving the attention of the United Nations Children Emergency Funds , the World Health Organisation and other partners, writeThe United Nations Children Emergency Funds , the World Health Organisation and other partners are stepping up the battle against measles, unhealthy living and violence against children.
He said the disease contributed to 40 to 50 per cent cause of death among children under age five, adding that though vaccines are administered on children traditionally within nine months of birth, vaccinated children under two years could receive a second dose. “Therefore, a higher does gives you a second chance of protecting all the children from getting measles. So, we have, as a country, decided that we are going to introduce the second dose, and we have done the flag off. There are health workers, going round every nook and cranny of Bayelsa State to search out every child under five years of age and to give them the second does of the vaccine in Bayelsa State.
He said: “UNICEF supported NOA to carry out this programme and the discussions are centred on the health of women, children and most difficult health challenges in the communities. He also said the governance structure, development unions and the traditional rulers council would be made to include the campaign in their monthly meetings.
Two traditional rulers at the forum, Eze Martin Nweke and Eze Joseph Igweonwe , thanked the organisers and promised to take the message down to their communities. “Many of the children, who are abused, are children whose parents are not paying attention to them. We need to talk to parents about appropriate parenting.
The UNICEF official said religious and traditional leaders were prepared to collaborate with UNICEF and NOA in putting an end to violence against children in their communities. Zubair Galadima-Soba, the state Director of NOA said the agency was concerned with violence meted out against children and was committed towards ensuring such act came to an end.
He also urged the public to desist from all kinds of violence so as to have a healthy and peaceful society. “Participants will agree on modalities for conducting community dialogues on the impact of VAC for the development of community level prevention and response actions.