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| Yemi Olowolabi with UNICEF representative. |
By Sola Omoboyowa, Akure
Ondo State Government in collaboration with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has organised a one day sensitisation meeting on proper hygiene tagged Facts for Life for Commissioners for Information, Permanent Secretaries and the Directors in charge of UNICEF programmes in states in the south west and Edo.
At the event held in Akure, the Ondo State capital the Ondo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Yemi Olowolabi said “It is fact that Ondo State Government and UNICEF have been enjoying a robust relationship that has resorted in improvement of the living standard of the people of the state”, he said.
The Information and Orientation commissioner added that the state Information Ministry is one of the line Ministries and Agencies that implemented UNICEF supported programmes, stressing that the Ministry draws its activities under UNICEF Akure Field Office cardinal programme called Communication for Development (C4D)
He added that the ministry in collaboration with UNICEF has embarked on a number of awareness projects that have significant impacts on the healthcare of the people, especially the children and mothers, adding that the collaboration efforts has helped at creating awareness for the people on the need to live under proper hygiene.
Mr. Olowolabi also informed the gathering that the state government through the ministry of Information and Orientation in conjunction with UNICEF embarked upon painting in 27 public, health and public schools to propagate the messages of sanitation and hygiene, which he said would go a long way in educating the general public on the benefits of handwashing with soap and water regularly.
The Information Commissioner also said that there is a sensitisation radio programme on Facts for Life which was produced by the ministry in collaboration with UNICEF known as Essential Family Practices which he said was designed to educate the people about key household practices that need to be imbibed by everybody so as to prevent communicable diseases and infant mortality.
He added that the sensitisation programme have been running on the state owned radio station, Orange 94.5 FM every Wednesday between 9.45am and 10am free of charge, saying it was social responsibility of the state government at ensuring healthy living of the people of the state.
Also speaking, the Communication for Development (C4D) Chief from Abuja, Dr. Anis commended the Ondo State Government for the impressive initiatives at sensitisating the public on proper sanitation and the radio programme that is running on the state owned radio free of charge. He, therefore called on other states in the zone to emulate Ondo State by providing quality leadership which would improve the life standard of the people.
Present at the meeting were the Commissioners for Information and Permanent Secretaries of Ondo, Ogun,Oyo, Osun and Ekiti.
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