23rd April, 2024
By Olaide Ayinde
Nigerian Nollywood actress, Kate Henshaw was in Bauchi on Tuesday to monitor immunization exercise in the state as a United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Ambassador.
Speaking at a news conference on the sideline of her field trip with UNICEF ‘D’ Field Office in Bauchi, Henshaw called for the establishment of more primary healthcare facilities to enhance immunisation coverage in the state.
According to her, with more PHC in the area the exercise would be more effective.
The 2008 Africa Movie Academy Award winner said that she was impressed with the turnout of women for the exercise, and commended UNICEF and the Bauchi State Government for their commitment in the fight against malnutrition.
According to Henshaw, active participation in the exercise will improve the health status of mothers and children.
“The imperative of more PHC is because the distance women have to travel in order to get care or to take their children could be a barrier.
“I also observed that the mode of transportation is motorcycles and I am not too comfortable for nursing mothers carrying babies on a motorcycle for immunisation exercise.
“There should be a better effort to close the gap in order to bring the service closer so that they don’t have excuses not to bring their children either for nutritional stuff or immunization,’’ she said.
Dr Rane Tushar, UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Bauchi, commended the medical practitioners in the state for their commitment and sought for more collaboration.
He urged the media to keep sensitising mothers through their reportage on the importance of immunisation and other vaccination activities.
(NAN)