NOA partners UNICEF, others to sensitise Abia women

As women in most churches in Nigeria celebrated Mothers’ Day, the Abia State Director of National Orientation Agency (NOA), at the weekend, partnered other relevant agencies, especially UNICEF on important roles played by mothers in the development of children in families.
This, NOA said, was aimed at sustaining a healthy living condition for the people, especially those living in rural areas and was in collaboration with the UNICEF.
Speaking at the one-day sensitisation programme for women in Abia State held at Iyom Ozu Abam Hall, Ozu Abam in Arochukwu Local Government Area of the state anchored by the Abia State Director of National Orientation Agency, Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Uduma, officials of Ministry of Health Abia State, National Population Commission as well as representatives from Non-Govermental Organisations (NGOs), the NOA Abia State director urged women to extend the teachings they received to others in the community.
In her speech, leader of the Iyom Ozu Abam Mrs. Comfort Ebere thanked the National Orientation Agency and the UNICEF for the life-changing sensitisation programme which she said came at no cost for them, promising to ensure that women of her community lived a healthy life through the implementation of the health tips they received during the programme and pleaded for a sustained visit by NOA to communities in the state.
On the issue of 6-months exclusive breast feeding lecture, some of the participants, Mrs. Priscilla Josiah, Mrs. Ngozi Onuma and Mrs. Hannah Mbaka complained that it is not easy for most nursing mothers to complete the 6 months exclusive breast-feeding period suggested to them, pointing out that sickness of a mother after child delivery could affect the stipulated 6-months suggested for exclusive breast-feeding.
According to Mrs. Rose Imoh, 67, the 6 months exclusive breast feeding method is worthwhile, stating that she would encourage young mothers to embrace it.
Speaking with newsmen later, Director of NOA in Abia State, Dr. (Mrs.) Ngozi Uduma, said the relevance of such programme was to step down the message to the people living in rural areas, stating “One of the things that Social Mobilisation and Technical Committee (SOMTEC) does is to choose communities where we can go to and step down the essential family practices, as it concern women and children” and this, she said, takes place at the end of every month”.
The programme witnessed large turnout of women and young mothers and was used to tackle some important health issues affecting the people like prevention of Malaria, Exclusive breast-feeding, hand-washing habit, prevention/management of HIV/AIDS, balanced food in-take, accurate population records as well as the importance of adequate immunization for babies and nursing mothers which when put in practice would help in guaranteeing a healthy society for the people.