NOA, UNICEF support protection of children in South East

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) and United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF) have expressed concern over child mortality rate in the South East, describing it as alarming.

They, however, argued that the situation could be reversed if mothers and caregivers are given appropriate orientation and information.

Imo State Director of NOA, Vitus Ekeocha, who stated this in Owerri yesterday, said most mothers and caregivers were ignorant of their roles in ensuring the protection, survival and development of their children.

He disclosed that with support from UNICEF, the NOA embarked on a massive sensitisation campaign to over 30, 000 communities in the South East region through the ongoing women August meeting platform.

He said the campaign was part of the agency’s efforts at tackling the increasing child molestation, malnutrition and deaths in the region.

Ekeocha added that staff members of the agency would explore the opportunity to explain to the women the importance of essential family practices, such as exclusive breastfeeding, hand washing, full immunisation, antenatal and self disposal of excreta.

He said the women would also be exposed to “issues of HIV and how to prevent the transmission of the virus from mother to child.

“We have observed that one the ways a child can be protected, survive and develop is by the caregivers knowing the importance of some health practices.

“Also, we recognise that women play very important role in the survival of a child and we decided to leverage on the August women meeting in the South East to talk to them on the importance of essential family practices.”