Follow Us on Google
From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
United Nations Children’s Fund, (UNICEF), has commended healthcare workers for their devotion and dedication in the fight against childhood killer diseases across the world.
UNICEF gave the commendation in a statement by its Vaccine Security and Logistics Consultant, for Benue State, Mr. Yusuf Mvumble, in Makurdi, to mark the 2024 World Health Worker Week.
The week is celebrated with the theme, “Safe and Supported: Invest in Health Workers.”
Mvumble, who described as immeasurable the contributions of health workers to providing healthcare services to help children and women live healthier lives immeasurable, said they have not only provide mere health services to the teeming world population but have put their lives on the line to ensure the eradication and decline of many diseases like
polio, measles, small pox, tuberculosis, diphtheria, cholera, malaria, COVID-19 and other diseases of public health importance.
He appealed to the governments and development partners to redouble their efforts and also make commitments for a healthier tomorrow by investing more in healthcare services and health workers.
According to him “the International Health workers Week is set aside to create awareness and draw attention to the role and importance of health workers towards improving the health of everyone particularly women and children irrespective of where they live and who they are.
“Health workers have continued to play roles in disease prevention, providing guidelines and care. UNICEF works with governments across all levels to ensure that everyones’ right to have access to quality healthcare, education, safe drinking water, nutrition, decent housing, and free from social vices is guaranteed.”
He UNICEF had been working with the Benue state government “to provide capacity building for healthcare workers, provision of safe and potent vaccines at the point of service delivery to eligible clients, support advocacy, communication and social mobilization to generate demand for health care services, zero dose reduction among others.
“This is done in collaboration with stakeholders traditional, religious, government and community influencers to ensure that all eligible women and children meet their health needs.
“With UNICEF’s support in collaboration with government and other partners, we’ve seen healthcare service provided in conflict/security compromised areas as well as hard to reach and other special population through innovative strategies.
“UNICEF funded humanitarian intervention in IDP camps in Guma, Markudi and Gwer West LGA, is one of such interventions aimed at “leaving no one behind” by providing basic primary health care services to people particularly women and children in humanitarian situation.”
He said for the year 2024, UNICEF have line up interventions to support Benue State such as the Maternal and Child Health week (MNCH), Supplemental Immunization Activities (SIAs) and Non Polio SIA (NPSIA).
“These campaigns are scheduled to be implemented in the course of the year leveraging on the health workers.
“Therefore as a health care worker, I am filled with joy to see the world refocusing its camera on health care workers and the role they play in healthcare provision.
“The applause goes to us on this great day, as it suffice to say with our work, we have seen decline in the scourge of polio, measles, small pox, tuberculosis, diphtheria, cholera, malaria, COVID-19 and other disease of public health importance.’ Now were able to see and have healthier growing children who can learn, walk and dance,” Mvumble said.
