Traditional rulers in Ekiti State have been called upon to join hands with the State government in its efforts at combating polio transmission and reducing child and maternal mortality in the state.
The State Commissioner for Health, Prof Olusola Fasubaa made the call during an advocacy visit to Ekiti State Council of Obas in Ado – Ekiti.
Fasubaa disclosed that Nigeria was rated third after Afghanistan and Pakistan among the countries where polio is endemic.
He described polio as a preventable communicable disease which causes paralysis and death in children and urged the royal fathers to join the state government in sensitizing and mobilizing women in their domains to immunise their children against the debilitating disease and other childhood killer diseases.
The Commissioner who noted that Ekiti State has the highest life expectancy rate in Nigeria with 80 per cent antenatal attendance rate charged Ekiti Obas to monitor and protect government health facilities in their domains against vandalism.
Fasubaa called on the royal fathers and local government Caretaker Chairmen in the state to continue to educate pregnant women, mothers of children below five years, the physically challenged, the aged as well as people living with HIV/AIDS to register at any of the 35 designated Free Health centres in their areas in order to enjoy the free health programme of the Fayemi-Administration.
The Chairman, Ekiti State Council of Obas and Owa Ooye of Okemesi, Oba Gbadebo Adedeji advised government to register traditional birth attendants in the state to enable the State Ministry of Health monitor their activities as well as organise periodic training and retraining for proprietors of private hospitals and clinics in the State to enhance their services.
Also speaking ,the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe urged the state government to employ more health workers for effective and efficient healthcare delivery system in the state.
In his remarks, the Oore of Otun, Oba Adedapo Popoola urged the state government to urgently rehabilitate some health facilities across the state.
Last modified: July 10, 2012