OMD: USAID-IHP tasks Ebonyi residents on health consciousness, balanced diet
From Victor Nwegede, Abakaliki
Following the Open Maternity Day (OMD)' held in Ebonyi, the United States Agency for International Development - Integrated Health Program (USAID-IHP) has urged residents of the state to be frequently health-conscious by avoiding lifestyles prone to disease risks.
USAID-IHP through the Integrated Primary Healthcare Advisor in Ebonyi, Loveth Chukwurah gave this advice on Wednesday during the Open Maternity Program at Urban Okposi Primary Health Centre in Ohaozara Local Government Area of the State.
Chukwurah said that the government has made available basic health needs to the residents of the state, but to be going to medical checkups and treatment in the health facilities within their areas.
She advised the pregnant women to always visit the health centres at their vicinities for antenatal and during delivery to go on time for adequate care and medication.
She emphasized that both children and adults especially the women of bearing age and their kids below 5years, always required a healthy examination before treatment to avert the reoccurrence of the malady, being suffered.
The IPHC advisor also urged parents to always cook quality foods for themselves and their children, stressing that, "every family should ensure that the children, and themselves, take a balanced diet."
Unveiling at the same time 7activities that would be carried out by USAID-IHP and other health aiding agencies on the Open Maternity Day, Chukwurah noted that the program would include a health facility tour, health talk, gender-based violence, GBV, awareness, question and answer session, antenatal and post-natal care services, childbirth spacing services, malaria test and services, blood pressure test, weight and height measurement.
Also speaking, the Officer-in-Charge of the health centre, Mrs Esther Chioma Enyi expressed joy over the massive compliance of the community people during the program.
She said, though, in their normal maternity days in the health centre, the women use to turn up, but not as witnessed on the open maternity day.
While USAID-IHP and other aiding bodies carried out the program, Enyi disclosed that according to the doctors' records during the program, the majority of adult people suffer predominantly, from arthritis, stroke and High Blood Pressure, while malaria infections were chiefly suffered by both young and adult ones in the area.
In his part, the Chairman of the Ward Development Committee in Mgbom in Ohaozara Council Area of the State, Augustine Okoro, equally urged the community people to utilise all the teachings and medical advice received during the event, asking them to always be health-conscious, by watching their body system, eating rightly, observing hygienic ethics, practice physical exercise, with regular medical checkups and following up the doctor's recommendations appropriately.
Meanwhile, the beneficiaries of the program include the Chairman of Amata and Amegu Mgbom Okposi Ward, Mr John Ngwu, Sunday Onyeama, Mary Okeke, and Blessing Omoke, among many others who commended the USAID-IHP and other health assisting bodies and groups in an interaction with journalists, called for the sustenance and expansion of such event, saying that the benefits remained immeasurable in the human society.
