By Ugochukwu Alaribe

ABA— In a bid to promote healthy living, , the United Nations Education Fund, UNICEF, in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency, NOA, Abia State, has tasked families in Abia State to cultivate the habit of good hygiene, balanced nutrition, as well as the well-being of children and pregnant women to prevent disease attack.

Speaking at a workshop organized for town union leaders, women, youth groups and wives of traditional rulers in Abia South senatorial zone, comprising six local councils, in Aba, Abia State Director, NOA, Dr. Ngozi Uduma, said the workshop, which she described as a joint effort between UNICEF and NOA, was concerned with essential family practices and information dissemination on prevention of diseases, breast feeding, immunization and pregnancy, among others.

According to her, “this programme is held in collaboration with UNICEF. We are concerned with essential family practices. You talk of exclusive breast feeding, hygiene and disease prevention; there is also clean environment and proper hand washing.

“You can’t practice one without the other. It involves town unions, women, youths and Ugoezes. We have educated them on how to go about these practices to prevent disease attacks and ensure healthy living. We have extracted commitment from them. After this, we are going into communities to monitor their implementation.”

Earlier, the guest lecturer at the event, Dr. Ezindu Odoemelam, warned residents to patronize trained health practitioners and imbibe best practices to avoid disease attack.

A cross section of respondents, who spoke at the workshop including Ugoeze Ugonwanyi Ubani from Obingwa council area, commended UNICEF and NOA for their efforts to promote healthy living in the communities in the state.

“We have gained a lot from this workshop. We have learnt about using clean toilets, washing hands with soap after defecating and before handling food, keeping the environment clean and using mosquito to avoid malaria, keeping food and water clean. We also learned that many illnesses can be prevented by good hygiene practices and nutrition. Above all, we were taught to visit trained health workers whenever we are sick.”