Popular Nigerian actress Kate Henshaw has commended the acceptance of routine immunisation by the people of Bauchi State, saying that it is a sign of the promotion of healthy living for children.
Kate Henshaw, who is a UNICEF Ambassador, was in Bauchi State to monitor the ongoing immunisation exercise, saying that the turnout was very impressive and encouraging and must be commended.
According to her, “First of all, let me say that you are very important to the issues of advocacy for the health of the mother and child, and it cannot be overemphasised. The importance of the dissemination of critical information to the people in the community and the state government is so very important.”
Coming back to Bauchi for me is a homecoming. I did my NYSC service here at the then Specialists Hospital. It was such a pleasure to meet with the State Governor yesterday; he received me very warmly and observed a minute of silence in honour of my late mother. He was very receptive.
The Governor is very passionate about the health of the child and the mother. He was excited about what UNICEF is doing and directed for the release of counterpart funds for UNICEF interventions as they affect the immune system and nutrition.
He is interested in giving protection to the children and their mothers through the right nutrition so that they will grow up properly.
Today, I met with the Emir of Dass, Usman Bilyaminu Othman II, a very nice gentleman. He received us very warmly, and we went to the local government together, where we saw some of the women. I was shown the nutrition arrangement and told them to always take the correct nutritional food and give the children RUTF and the supplements that are needed for normal growth.
We also reminded them of the importance of exclusive breastfeeding for six months to give the child a healthy foundation for a better tomorrow.
We were also at Yelwa, where we saw many women who brought their children for immunisation, and we saw a lot of children already immunised. We give kudos to the field workers, community workers, health workers, and Mama2Mama; all of them are doing well towards giving a chance to live to the mother and the child.
I want to thank UNICEF for giving me the opportunity to meet people and share an overview and insight into how this work is done. It is not easy; it has to come from a place of love, a place of care, and a place of advancement for people to have a chance to live.
It starts with the woman when she takes in. It is very important that you amplify this message as often as you can in your reportage to communities and even yourselves so that the people will know, especially the women. The men also know that they are part of the process; they are partners in this work of advocacy because we all need each other in order to be able to make the story complete.
Earlier, Chief of Field Office, Bauchi UNICEF, Dr Tushar Rane, said, “We are thankful to Kate Henshaw for travelling all the way from Lagos to Bauchi to visit and see what we are doing. She met the Governor and the Emir of Dass, as well as some of the carers.
She had a busy schedule going around in Solidarity, meeting people and talking about mother and child, It was a very successful exercise as She was able to advocate for more participation in the issues of mother and child.
The essence is that no child must be left behind in the issue of quality healthcare service, from the basics.
Also speaking, Rajat Madhok, Chief of Communications, UNICEF Nigeria, said that “UNICEF partners with influencers, people who have a voice and are respected in the community, who see matters. We want them to come to the community to talk to the community, talk to the government, talk to people about health, and convince them that it is important for us to invest in the children.
And to someone like Kate Henshaw, She has all of the attributes I have mentioned: She has influence, she’s got the voice and most importantly, she has the heart in the right place That is the reason She is UNICEF Champion. Around the world, we have them.
He explained that Kate Henshaw was in Bauchi to see for herself what UNICEF is doing in the area of promoting the health of the mother and child.
ALSO READ THESE TOP STORIES FROM NEWSNGR.COM.NG