Gombe inaugurates interfaith forum on health promotion
Following perceived grip on residents, community dwellers by leaders of faith-based groups, Gombe State Government has inaugurated interfaith forum for health promotion in a bid to attain Universal Health Coverage.
Periscope Nigeria reports that the forum would partner the State Government in disseminating information in order to combat health issues in the communities.
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Speaking on Thursday during the inauguration organised in collaboration with The Challenge Initiative, Gombe State Commissioner for Health Dr. Habu Dahiru said the state would leverage on the popularity of religious leaders to sensitise residents on emerging health challenges.
According to him, the persons in the forum would be well informed on the advantages of accessing healthcare services, due to their importance in shaping the actions of their admirers.
Dahiru said, “We have selected topics to educate them. For instance maternal and child mortality and how it is prevented. He will take the message to his followers.
“People have confidence in the faith-based groups, so they listen, so when they listen, they comply and this is what we want them to comply to.”
The commissioner noted that with this collaboration, residents would be properly informed on the need to make healthy choices, stressing that the forum would not only focus on child spacing but would target on increasing acceptability of immunisation, need to access medical services for delivery, in order to mitigate maternal and child mortality.
“To get a team that will convey very important information to the general public through the faith-based organisations. We all know that they are mentors, teachers and they are people the followership refers to for clarification on activities, events and other community issues.
“When we bring them together we educate them and give them insight as to the importance of a programme. On this very one we are talking of child spacing and the importance of child spacing, benefits, ills when it is not done what happens.
“The interfaith forum will help us convey very useful information on the importance of immunisation, breast feeding, antenatal care and hospital delivery,” Dahiru added.
