…Says govt will continue to partner with NGOs
MON, FEBRUARY 20 2017-The Delta State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Patrick Ukah, has assured the Asaba New Noble Lions Club in collaboration with Medical Women Association of Nigeria, Asaba chapter, and the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Delta State chapter, of the state government’s support on their fight against cancer in the state.
Speaking during a courtesy call by the group to the commissioner in Asaba on Thursday, Mr. Ukah said the fight against cancer is a must fight for everyone and a fight that must be won with regard to the pains the sufferers go through.
The commissioner further emphasised that the administration of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa will do anything to improve on the health of Deltans and residents of the state and called on the groups not to dwell their fight against the deadly disease on the pages of the newspapers, radio, and television only; but to the market women, school children and door to door sensitisation.
While saying that the increase in the cancer patients was as a result of ignorance from the people as some will not go for check-up, even when it is obvious that it is cancer; due to religious beliefs and culture and promised to sponsor 10 patients for treatment.
In her speech, the leader of the group, Mrs. Udeay Onwumah, who said that the group was in the office to seek the commissioner’s assistance in the fight against cancer in the state, noting that the improvement of awareness on the disease through the media will go a long way in the fight against cancer and solicited his assistance as the state government’s mouthpiece.
Also speaking, the President, Medical Women Association of Nigeria, Asaba chapter, Dr. Bobola Agbonle, noted that with enough sensitisation and support, cancer will be a thing of the past in the country and called on the people to go for cancer checkup whenever they noticed anything unusual in their body.
Meanwhile, Ukah, has assured women organizations of the state government’s partnership in a bid to move the state forward.
Mr. Ukah gave this assurance when he played host to the Elegant Ladies Club of Asaba in his office on Friday.
The Commissioner stated that government need associations like the Elegant Ladies Club to form an interface between government and the people, saying that such body would be able to relate government activities and programmes to the communities.
He specially praised the club for the various initiatives for the education and welfare of the girl-child, stating that there is need to give the girl-child what she needs to develop, even as he stated that the Okowa administration is poised to rejuvenating the state’s technical education schools to help the youths acquire needed vocations and skills that will enable them become self-employed and employers of labour instead of waiting for white collar job that are not available.
Mr. Ukah also urged the club to create awareness and sensitize the communities of the various government programmes which include STEP, YAGEP and GEEP aimed at creating jobs for the teaming unemployed youths in the state which are in line with the initiatives of the Elegant Ladies Club of Asaba.
He promised to give the club adequate publicity on the various activities lined up for the Annual General Meeting coming up very soon.
Earlier, the President of the Club, Mrs. Vivian Okolo, thanked the state government for its laudable programmes and activities to promote the welfare of the girl-child in the state, even as she solicited for financial assistance to enable the club complete its various projects in the state.
She had in her address stated that the club is building a Civic Centre, along Ibusa Road, which will have a multi-purpose hall, a multi-purpose library, a gym, a computer centre, and a skill acquisition center to cater for the girl-child.
Highpoint of the visit was the presentation of Veracity Magazine to the members of the club by Mr. Patrick Ukah.
Present at the occasion include the functioning Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Paul Osahor, the Director of Publication and Printing, Mr. Dona Obuseh, the Director of Planning Research and Statistics, Mr. Kinglsey Olomukoro, the Director of Administration, Mr. Frank Akpoku, the Director of Finance and Account, Mr. Dominic Omogbesiayeh, the Special Assistant to the Commissioner, Mr. Christopher Nwaoboshi and the Media Assistant to the Commissioner, Mr. Sam Ijeh.
