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UNICEF Media Parley: Emir Of Kano Speaks On COVID-19, Cholera, Mother And Child Care, Basic Education

On October 14, 2021, the UNICEF, Kano Field Office organized a Media Parley at the Emir’s Palace, Kano, where the Emir of Kano,  His Highness,  Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero spoke on very important issues  such as the COVID-19 pandemic, cholera outbreak, mother and child care, parental responsibility, basic education, among others. MADUABUCHI NMERIBEH was there for The AUTHORITY Newspaper.

The Emir said: “I am delighted for an opportunity to brief you today on a few development issues in our dear state, Kano. This has become necessary to help in sensitizing and mobilizing our people to support the efforts of the Government and development partners to address such issues.”

COVID-19 Vaccination

“I commend the efforts of the Federal and Kano State Government for procuring vaccines to protect the people against COVID-19 infection. I also commend the efforts of the State Task Force on COVID-19 and development partners who have been providing support to ensure that Kano achieves herd immunity. The Harmattan season is fast approaching, during this time there is increased prevalence of influenza and catarrh. I encourage all the good people of Kano State to get vaccinated as soon as possible in order to avoid further complications by the contraction of the COVID 19 virus. Even after being vaccinated, our people are enjoined to continue observing prevention measures such as correctly wearing a face mask, washing hands frequently, ensuring social distance and avoiding large gatherings except for prayers.  COVID-19 is real and many of our people have died of it. That is why we must do all we can to prevent it’s further spread. For the avoidance of doubt, I have been fully vaccinated and here is my vaccination card.”

Mother and Child Care

“Let me use this opportunity to appeal to all families to ensure that pregnant women register for ante-natal care in the nearest facility and receive iron folic and acid supplements; to continue going there and give birth there; to ensure that the birth of all children are registered and to ensure that children are put to breast immediately after birth and in the first six months of a child’s life, only breastmilk is given to the child. Not even water or any other liquid apart from breastmilk should be given to a newborn child in the first six months of their lives. As it is enjoined in the Holy Quran, mothers are to breastfeed their babies for a period of at least two years.

“Of late there have been reports about a variant of the polio virus in the environment. I want to encourage all parents and caregivers to take the immunization of children as a mandatory responsibility. Let’s follow the routine immunization schedule and ensure that all our children are vaccinated against childhood killer diseases.

“Our women and our children are blessings from Allah, and we need to both prevent and report every form of violence against them to law enforcement agents and the traditional leaders.”

Cholera

“I appreciate the efforts of the Government in bringing cholera outbreak in Kano state under control. Since cholera keeps re-occurring, we need to adopt a preventive approach instead of just responding. Our people always need to avoid open defecation and ensure proper personal hygiene as well as maintain a clean environment. People should drink water only from safe sources, and when in doubt boil the water properly to reduce the chances of viruses spreading through it. Our health is in our hands and we cannot afford to toy with it.”

 Basic Education

“Education is a basic right of children and just as we are working to ensure the expansion of educational opportunities , I want to appeal to all parents and caregivers to ensure that their children enroll early in school and continue to school until they complete at least basic education at the age of 16 years.

“The education of our children, including the girl child, is very important for our own future as well as their own future. Let us ensure that all our children register in school as early as possible and stay there to complete their education. This way, we will be investing in the future peace, development, and progress of Kano State.”

Parental responsibility for protecting children from Harm

“The best place for a child’s development is within families. Permit me therefore to encourage all parents and caregivers to be responsible in discharging their responsibilities towards children as assigned to them by Allah. The number of young children begging on the streets in Kano and its environs is unacceptable. Children in street situation face serious challenges including unmet basic needs, lack of a sense of safety as they are confronted with several forms of harm, lack of a sense of belonging to a communityand substance abuse.

“We all have a duty of care and protection for children from all forms of violence including sexual abuse as we cannot expectGovernment alone to do everything especially when children are located within families. One day, Allah will call you to account for the people He put in your care. I would also like to remind you that, it is important to register the birth of children within their first year of birth with the approved institution, the national population Commission.”

A call to Duty for Traditional and Religious Leaders

“I am instructing all District Heads, Traditional title holders, Village heads, ward heads, Imams, and other traditional and religious leaders in my domain to be champions in promoting the issues I have raised. Copies of this speech are to be immediately shared with them for compliance. I have also asked the Kano State Emirate Councils Committee on Health (KASECCoH) to monitor compliance and report back to me.”

In conclusion, the First Class Monarch stated that: “Let me use this opportunity to thank our journalists once again for their efforts to sensitize the public on critical issues. I implore you to still do more to ensure that the issues I have raised in this brief address are well understood by the public and complied with. My gratitude to his Excellency the Executive Governor of Kano State, all state governmentofficials as well as all federal agencies and development partners that are promoting human and social development in Kano State. Thank you and God protect us all.”

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