Rivers
RSG Advises Pregnant Women Against Patronising Untrained Medical Practitioners
The Rivers State Government has cautioned pregnant women and nursing mothers in the state against patonising untrained medical practitioners as well as indulging in self medication.
Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Primary Health Care Management Board, Dr Aggriye Harry, gave the warning at the Degema Consulate during the flag- off of second round maternal new born and child health week.
Dr. Harry said within the week both pre natal and antinatal care will be free in all Government Health Centres across the state.
He said the flag-off was to further create awareness on the need for pregnant women and nursing mothers to go for regular medical check in government health centres and hospitals.
The permanent secretary also stressed the need for people to go for Covid- 19 vaccination as well as HIV/AIDS test.
Harry also called on women to always examine their breast every morning, pointing out the need for synergy among all agencies in the state to ensure the success of the programme.
Also speaking, the representative of the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. (Mrs) Nnesochi Offor, said good health for women and children are key for the overall development of the society, noting that it is against the background that government is investing a lot of resources to ensure optimum health care for women and children.
Dr.(Mrs) Offor, who is a retired permanent secretary in the state civil service also advised against patronising quacks. She said health centres across the local government areas are well equiped to take care of the needs of pregnant women, nursing mothers and children.
The permanent secretary, Ministry of Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibiwari Clapton Ogolo, described the event as a very important part of mother and child health care programme.
She thanked the people of Degema for turning out en masse for the programme and urged them to take advantage of it to improve themselves.
The chairman of Degema Local Government Area, Hon. Micheal John Williams, thanked the government for the choice of Degema for the flag- off.
William also regreted that most people in the area are patronising quack doctors for their medical needs. He called on the people to report any health centre in the area which demands money before attending to their needs.The chairman also urged the people to go for Covid- 19 vaccination.
By: John Bibor & Oribim Ibama