Maternal, Child Health: Kwara Govt targets 2m children, 800,000 pregnant mothers
By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal
The Kwara Government says it is targeting about two (2) million under five-year-old children and 800,000 pregnant women, for Maternal, Child Health Week intervention.
Dr. Nusirat Elelu, the Executive Secretary of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency, who spoke at the flag off of maternal, newborn and child health week, in Ilorin on Monday, said there will be distribution of free distribution of low cost high impact interventions in its health facilities.
She explained that the distribution
would be made during the week celebration, adding that the Week is a decision of the National Council of Health.
According to her, the state is targeting these vulnerable groups across the 193 wards of the state for free distribution of low cost high impact interventions in its health facilities.
“During this week-long event, 10 high impact and life saving interventions targeted at improving the health and the general wellbeing of our mothers and
children would be delivered across all nooks and crannies of the state for FREE
“These interventions would range 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 said.
Elelu, said that the programme was aimed at reversing the trend of unacceptable high
morbidity and mortality rate among mothers and children.
She added that the programme had in the past recorded success in improving health status of women and children in the country and in Kwara state.
The executive secretary, appreciated development partners like the World Bank through the ANRIN project, UNICEF as well as the state government and other stakeholders supporting the programme.
She called on all mothers and caregivers, to bring their children to the nearest health facility and take advantage of the week, “dedicated to mothers and children by the state government”.
Also speaking, Dr. Raji Razaq, the State Commissioner for Health, implored men, religious and traditional leaders to support the programme by giving consent and creating awareness on the importance of the programme.
The Commissioner said that the week-long delivery of health interventions also aimed at improving health seeking behaviour of the populace by returning people to the health facility as against house-to-house campaign.
“Being fully aware of the role of Primary Health Care in achieving Universal Health Coverage, the Kwara government in its efforts has made Routine
Immunization and Primary Health Care in general a priority.
“This is evident in the establishment of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency backed by Law and ongoing effort to bring Primary Health Care Under One Roof (PHCUOR),” he said. (NAN)
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