Emir charges traditional rulers on ameliorating mortality rate

The Emir of Shonga, Haliru Ndanusa, has said that traditional institutions have crucial roles to play in curbing the menace of maternal mortality, just as he disclosed that over 300 women die every week on maternal and child mortality related issues.

Ndanusa made this known while speaking at the Ilorin Emir’s Palace at a sensitization/advocacy programme organised by the Sultanate Foundation for Peace and Development in conjunction with the UNDP/WHO held recently in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

Ndanusa who identified lack of adequate education, poverty and negligence among parents as the major causes of high death rate in Africa, therefore urged residents to cooperate with the community leaders in the strides to tackle the menace.

According o him, marriage with underage females has contributed immensely to the significant rise in maternal mortality in the nation saying parents and community leaders should assist in curbing the menace in their domains.

No fewer than 500 traditional chiefs across the Ilorin Emirate who participated at the workshop were admonished to effect positive change in their respective environment to further safe more lives among their subjects. He urged community leaders to always take proper record of both birth and death rates in their areas in order to allow government make adequate provisions for their well-being.

He however stressed that adequate campaigns and awareness among residents will go a long way in eradicating the menace adding that “it was the prompt intervention of myself and the Emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari that made the polio immunization programme for children to be accepted among the people.”

Ndanusa also implored parents especially mothers to embrace family planning as well as child spacing in order to ensure the well-being of themselves and their children for better living condition even as he urged community leaders to always hold medical officers in their areas accountable for non-performance.

In his reaction, the Magaji Ngeri of Ilorin Mohammed Jamiu Adebayo, has encouraged stakeholders in the health sector to expedite actions towards giving patient qualitative healthcare facilities. Stressing that, the downtrodden deserves a lot from the government.

Meanwhile, the Magaji Nda of Ilorin, Saliu Woru Mohammed, advocated that adequate sanction must be meted on whoever found victim of getting married to under-aged females adding that government at all levels must champion the cause for the betterment of the society.

However, As World Polio Day was being observed across the globe, the Kwara State Government again reaffirmed its commitment in partnering with relevant stakeholders in an effort to wipe out polio virus in the country.

The Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed gave this assurance in Ilorin, the state capital at World Polio Campaign awareness programme organised by Rotary club of Ilorin in collaboration with the State Ministry of Health.

The governor, who was represented by the state commissioner for Health Atolagbe Alege, said in the state government has committed huge resource toward eradication of polio within and outside the state.

Governor Ahmed however, applauded the Rotary club of Ilorin for their humanitarian gestures at all times and their steadfastness in ensuring polio virus awareness campaign cut across the nooks and crannies of the state.

According to the governor, in recent times, the state has yet to record any case of polio outbreak, attributing the success recorded as a result of quick evacuation and monitoring of polio vaccine to appropriate destination.

Governor Ahmed further stressed that the state government through the state ministry of health had provided largest vaccination cold room in the Kwara central and also ensure polio vaccination to all government owned hospitala across the sixteen local government areas of the state.

Earlier in his address, the Governor Emeritus of Rotary club, Rotarian Mike Omotosho, said rotary club started the polio awareness campaign thirty two years ago, with over a billion children being immunized up till today.

According to him, before awareness campaign was kicked, about one hundred and thirty five thousand outbreak of the polio virus was recorded.

Omotosho, however commended the state government for ensuring Kwara state recorded zero polio virus in recent times.

Also speaking, the state polio representative, Funsho Dare, called for effective collaboration between Rotary club and the state ministry of health in order to take polio awareness campaign to the grass-roots.

He added that, Rotary club has always complimented the effort of the state government in health awareness campaign.