By Hanifat Ismail
The Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency KWSPHCDA on Monday flagged off the 2022 Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW) in Ilorin.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary, KWSPHCDA Dr. Nusirat Elelu said, MNCHW is an outcome of the decision of the National Council of Health. She said the council in 2010 instituted the biannual MNCHW, to reverse the trend of unacceptably high morbidity and mortality among mothers and children, with a package of low cost high impact interventions delivered in health facilities.
Dr. Nusirat said during this week-long event, 10 high impact and life saving interventions targeted at improving the health and the general wellbeing of mothers and children would be delivered across all nooks and crannies of the state for Free. ranging from Vitamin A supplementation, Intensification of Immunization, De-worming, Ante-natal Services, Family Planning services, HIV testing, Malaria services, Birth registration, Health promotion on Key Household Practices (KHHP) and many more.
She disclosed that the interventions will target over 800,000 women of reproductive age most especially pregnant women and about 2 million children less than 5 years, across all the 193 geopolitical wards of Kwara.
She appreciated the Kwara State Government for providing an enabling environment for the implementation of the programme and the constant support both morally and financially.
Dr. Elelu commended the World Health Organization, AFENET, UNICEF, World Bank through the ANRIN project and other stakeholders who has made the implementation a reality.
Their partners in their various remarks also commended the state government under the leadership of Gov AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for prioritizing health sector and given importance to the well-being of mothers and their children.
“This program is another testament to the support of His Excellency Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, at ensuring equitable access to quality Healthcare for all Kwarans”.
She therefore called on all mothers and caregivers to bring their children to the nearest health facility and take advantage of this week which is dedicated to Mothers and Children by the State government.
Also speaking, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Raji Razaq said MNCHW is aimed at delivering packages of basic interventions to improve the health of mothers and children. Added that the interventions are proven to be effective in reducing maternal and child morbidity and mortality and therefore improve their health status.
Dr. Raji also said, Kwara State Government will continue to do everything within its reach to revitalize and reposition Primary Health Care in line with the promise of this administration to ensure quality Health Care to the grass root and achieve universal coverage.
He therefore implored men, Religious and Traditional Leaders to support by giving consent and create awareness on the importance of the program.
