Nasarawa Govt want communities to embrace FG’s health policies
By Awayi Kuje
Healthcare
Uke (Nasarawa State), May 11, 2019 (NAN) The Nasarawa State Primary HealthCare Development Agency has urged communities across the state to embrace the Community Health Influencers, Promoters and Service Providers (CHIPS) programme.
The government explained that the programme designed to address maternal and child mortality, especially at the grassroots level.
Mr Ibrahim Mohammed, the Deputy Director, Social Mobilisation Department of the agency, made the call on Saturday during a community engagement and sensitisation meeting on the implementation of CHIPS programmme at Uke, Karshi Development Area of the state.
He said that the meeting was, among other things, to educate and sensitise the people, especially women on the need to embrace CHIPS programme in order to reduce maternal and child mortality in the state.
The deputy director said that the programme was introduced by the Federal Government, especially for Nigerians living in rural areas in order to access quality healthcare services.
“This is to boost the health status of women and children thereby reducing maternal and child mortality especially in rural areas or grassroots in the interest of development.
“This is because it has been said that a healthy nation is a wealthy nation, hence the need for the engagement and sensitisation meeting.
“It is in view of this that I want to use this opportunity to urge communities across the state to embrace the programme in their interest and in the interest of development,” he said.
Mohammed also called on community leaders and other relevant stakeholders to mobilise and educate their people on the importance of the programme for the overall development of the country.
The deputy director pledged the state government’s continued commitment towards the reduction of maternal and child mortality in the state and country at large.
The State Coordinator of CHIPS, Mrs Esther Yonna, also called on communities to embrace the programme considering its importance to the health of the people and societal development.
“This programme is very important to the health needs of our people, especially at the grassroots, hence the need for all of us to embrace it,” she said.
Responding, the Yakanaji of Uke, Dr Ahmed Abubakar Hassan, assured the state government of his people’s readiness to embrace government’s good policies and programmes at all time in the interest of development.
Hassan commended the state government for addressing the health needs of the people through the initiation of good health policies and programmes, calling for their sustenance.
AKW/CHOM/MST
Edited by Chioma Ugboma/Muhammad Suleiman