...donates wrappers, public address system to PDP women

The first lady of Nkanu West local government area, Mrs Mary Onyinye Ejim has flagged off Vaccination for Measles and Yellow Fever programme in the council area. The flag off ceremony which was performed Friday, 7th October, 2022 by the First Lady and the Council Chairman, Hon. Uchenna Ejim, was held at Agbani Health Centre in Nkanu West LGA.

In her speech during the flag off event, Mrs Ejim, thanked the Executive Governor of Enugu State, Rt. Hon. Dr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and his wife, Mrs Monica Ugwuanyi, for their thoughtful support to the fight against the diseases. 

She equally expressed gratitude to her husband, the council chairman, for what she described as his “unending support and dedication towards the welfare of Nkanu West residents especially women and children”.

Addressing the women of the local council area who turned out in their numbers, she said, “we urge you to comply with us and allow your kids to be vaccinated”. 

In showing appreciation to women for their support to the People's Democratic Party, PDP and the administration of Hon. Uchenna Ejim, the first lady shared about 200 wrappers and lace materias to women drawn from all the fourteen political wards in Nkanu West LGA. She used the opportunity to encourage women not to relent in participating in political activities, and called on them to ensure they cast their votes for the PDP guber flagbeerer in Enugu State, Barr. Peter Mbah and other candidates of the PDP in the forthcoming 2023 general election slated for February next year.

Mrs Ejim also donated a brand new public address system to PDP women wing to support them as they go into political campaign season.

Lauding the health department, especially frontline workers, she supported the vaccination programme with fifty thousand naira and a brand new megaphone to aid in making town announcements and disseminating health information.

Head of Health Department in Nkanu West, Mrs Ogbodo Eunice, thanked the council chairman and first lady for their immeasurable support towards the welfare and affairs of Nkanu West health department.

Stressing on the aim of the flag off and campaign as being for awareness, she noted that the vaccination will commence on October 13, 2022.

“The vaccination will be administered not only in Nkanu West but all over Enugu. Other vaccines like COVID-19 vaccines and other routine immunizations will also be administered. The vaccination programme will last for 10 days and if you have received yellow fever vaccine in the past, you don’t need a second dose because the immunity lasts for 10 years”.

The Supervisor for Health, Hon Mrs Roseline Nnaji, adviced the people to take advantage of the free-health services aimed at ensuring safety of children and adults against measles and yellow fever. 

“Mothers have lost their babies to measles. It is important you cooperate with us and vaccinate your kids”, Nnaji said.

Mrs Stella Ani pointed out that letters had been sent out to schools, churches and communities to inform them of the vaccination exercise. 

She enlightened the residents more on the vaccination programme, stating that BCG (Bacillus Calmette–Guérin) vaccine fights against Tuberculosis (ukwara nta) and Polio vaccine fights against paralysis, weak muscles and muscle twitch.

She expressed profound gratitude for the COVID-19 lab testing site established in Nkanu West, at Amurri health Centre. She also adviced mothers to pay close attention to training their young children especially the female ones, create a channel for proper communication with them and report any side effects to health/medical centres. 

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Pledging her continued support, the First Lady further supported nursing mothers with soaps, buckets and gave party women wrappers and fifty thousand naira. The council chairman, Hon. Uchenna Ejim, also made donations to support the vaccination exercise.

HRH Igwe Okechukwu Egbune and Engr. Buchi Nnaji, Special Adviser to the Council Chairman on Media, were among stakeholders present at the occassion.