By Michael Ezenwata
An Obstetrician Oncologist, Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital, Nnewi campus, Associate Professor Osita Umeononihu is in total support of Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administrative policies aimed at promoting the welfare and protecting the rights of children in the state.
In a press statement in Awka to evaluate the responsiveness of government and other stakeholders towards the promotion of the welfare of children, Prof.Umeononihu admitted that government has made advances in the provision of free education to children in the public schools,free ante natal services for expectant mothers,and the implementation of the State Health Insurance Scheme.
According to the medical expert,the Anambra child is not different from the Nigerian child because they live in the same environment where challenges of hunger, sex abuse, child labour, unfriendly environment, inadequate health facilities and other indices of underdevelopment exist.
He pressed for a further probe and more advances in the discovery of baby factories in Anambra State,the establishment of child health schemes for the adolescent child,and pre school children management scheme ,investigating child abuses, exploitation of various dimensions, among others.
Prof.Umeononihu further asked that the investment made in developing Okpoko from an urban slum to a smart city should be extended to other areas in the state still in the pre Okpoko status.
In a related development, the Principal, Comprehensive Science and Technical College, Nawfia, Venerable Dr.Nnamdi Ememdu welcomed Governor Soludo’s advances in enhancing children’s advocacy visible in his free education policy, building of the Solution Funcity Awka,the provision of free ante natal services for expectant mothers among others.
Venerable Ememdu urged that primary schools in the state be given more attention like their secondary schools counterparts in the areas of infrastructure and staffing.
The principal noted that primary schools in the state are facing the challenges of understaffing especially in the near absence of male teachers
He suggested that enough incentives be given to intending male teachers by lowering the cut off mark for admission to enable them establish their presence and instill the necessary disciplines expected from them as men.
- Ezenwata is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State *
