Governor Chukwuma Soludo has flagged off the first round of the 2022 maternal, newborn, and child health week in Anambra State.
Governor Soludo flagged off the exercise at the Primary Health Centre, Akwaeze, Anaocha Local Government Area.
The Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, MNCH, week which happens twice every year, is aimed at “improving the health status of Nigerian women and children by increasing coverage of key maternal, newborn and child health interventions.”
The interventions which are given free of charge include nutrition screening, Vitamin A, birth registration, family planning, distribution of long-lasting insecticide treated nets, deworming, antenatal care, routine immunization to children between ages 0 to 5, yellow fever vaccination, HIV counseling and testing services, among many others.
Highpoints of the ceremony were the symbolic immunization of children and the demonstration of proper handwashing techniques by Governor Soludo accompanied by Dr. Ezenyimulu.
This was the mood at the Primary Health Centre in Akwaeze as members of the royal cabinet of the community welcomed the Governor and his entourage including the Executive Secretary, Anambra Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Chioma Ezenyimulu and representatives of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency for the flag-off of the MNCH Week.
Soludo said over six hundred thousand Anambra indigenes have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
Represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike, Governor Soludo said the state government in line with its vision for a “disruptive change” in the health sector, hopes that the week will help to reduce maternal and child mortality and increase health education among the populace.
The Governor advised caregivers to avail themselves of opportunities provided by MNCH week to make sure that their children receive these interventions while charging pregnant women and women of childbearing age to visit the health facilities to assess health care services.
The Executive Secretary, Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Ezenyimulu explained that all the commodities for the exercise which will last from Saturday July 30 and Wednesday August 3, 2022 has been distributed to all the primary health care centres across the state to ensure full implementation of the week.
The flag-off ceremony was also attended by the Director, Primary Healthcare, Anaocha Local Government Health Authority, Lady Theresa Onyekwelu.
Olusola Akintonde
