Gov. Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun has flagged off the 2021 Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) Week in the state.
This is contained in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ismail Omipidan, on Sunday in Osogbo.
Oyetola said that the exercise was targeted at delivering a package of basic interventions that would be highly effective in reducing child mortality and improving mother and child health
He said that the initiative was in partnership with World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
The governor told the nursing mothers at the event that the MNCH week was also aimed at improving child survival as well as developing and improving maternal health of the people of the state.
Oyetola said that all children due for immunisation would be immunized, while long-lasting insecticide nets would be made available in all public health facilities for pregnant women and children.
He urged parents and guardians to ensure that their children and wards received the life-saving interventions at designated health facilities and outreach centres across the state.
“The restoration of healthy living among our people is part of our administration’s development agenda.
“I am proud to say that we have delivered on our promise and will continue to pursue this policy with all doggedness and commitment,” the governor said.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the WHO Representative in Nigeria, Dr Walter Kazadi, acknowledged the partnership between the state government and the organisation in promoting quality health and keeping the people safe and healthy.
Kazadi said that there had been progress in the efforts at reducing maternal mortality, neonatal and under-five mortality in many developing countries, including Nigeria.
In his address of welcome, Chairman, Osun Primary Healthcare Development Board, Mr Leke Ogunsola, said that the programme was an indication of the priority given to total the wellbeing of the people of the state, especially children, by the Oyetola-led administration.
Ogunsola said that the exercise would be held in 778 designated health facilities and outreach centres in all the 332 wards of the state for effective coverage.
“During this week, we plan to reach a total of 988,423 under-five children in the state for the child survival interventions, such as Vitamin A supplementation, screening of children for malnutrition and immunisation, among others,” he said. (NAN)
