Akwa Ibom on the forefront of women, girl-child development, says commissioner

The Akwa Ibom state government is on the forefront of women and girl-child development, Charles Udoh, commissioner for information, has said.

The commissioner said this in a goodwill message presented at the National Population Commission, during the 2020 World Population Day Celebration in Uyo.

He said the administration of Udom Emmanuel, the governor, is committed to the welfare of women in the state, listing the free healthcare policy for pregnant women, children between the age bracket of 0-5 years and the aged as evidence.

He said since assumption of office, Emmanuel has placed issues of women and the girl-child on the front burner of his government “as demonstrated in the free health care policy for some categories of people in the state, with no discrimination against women or the Girl-child”.

He emphasised that the Akwa Ibom state government is one of the first in Nigeria to domesticate the Child Rights Law, geared towards the advancement of women and the girl-child in the state.

Emmanuel, who acknowledged as apt, the theme for the 2020 World Population Day Celebration, “Putting brakes on COVID-19 : How to safeguard the Health and Rights of Women and Girls Now”, said, Akwa Ibom government has invested in the prevention of COVID-19 and the treatment of COVID-19 cases which include women in the state.

He said in addition to the construction of a world class 300-bed isolation centre with inbuilt molecular virology laboratory and a PCR machine, which is adjudged among the best in Nigeria, Emmanuel has also provided state-of-the-art medical equipment in hospitals across the state to cater for the health needs of women, the girl-child and indeed all residents of the state.

Represented by Grace Akpan, director of public relations in the ministry of information, the commissioner said government has also constituted a board of professionals for the for the State Healthcare Development Agency to supervise and ensure the workability of primary healthcare centers across the state.