Bayelsa Women Urged To Register Childbirth

Yenagoa – Women of Yenizue-Gene community in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have been advised to always register the birth of their children.

Mrs. Priscilla Isiguzo, an official of the National Population Commission (NPC), Yenagoa, gave the advice during a campaign on key household and community practices organised at the community town hall by the State Social Mobilisation and Technical Community (SOMTEC).

“Register the birth of your child. It is very good so that you can get birth certificate for your child. It is free of charge,” she said.

She said that the birth certificate was useful in many ways including school enrolment, opening of children’s bank account, overseas travel as well as an evidence that a child belonged to a parent.

Also speaking, Prince John Egbe, a public health expert and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Special Duties, stressed the need for women to carry out household practices that would improve healthy living in their homes.

Egbe, who spoke on the advantages of the use of mosquito net and preparation of oral rehydration therapy (ORT), among other household practices, also urged the women to guard against HIV/AIDS infection as it has no cure but preventable.

In her presentation on hand washing, Mrs. Zipamoere Afenfia, an officer of the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), took the Yenizue-Gene women through a practical exercise on hand washing, saying it was a sure way of preventing germs from going into the body system.

Earlier in her remark, Mrs. Beatrice Sikpi, SOMTEC Desk Officer at the state Ministry of Information and Orientation, who led the team, had explained that the campaign was a partnership involving the World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF) and the Bayelsa State Government.

She also said that the campaign was sequel to a previous SOMTEC forum, which was held at the community town hall a few weeks ago.

Source: Independent Newspaper