The 2026 Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) Week has commenced in Cross River State, southern Nigeria, with a call on mothers, caregivers and community leaders to make full use of the government-sponsored free healthcare services available during the campaign.
The wife of the Cross River State Governor, Bishop Eyoanwan Otu, who flagged off the weeklong activity in Calabar, the state capital, said that the initiative reflected the administration’s unwavering commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of women and children.
Otu described quality healthcare as a foundation for sustainable development.
She said; “we encourage every mother, caregiver and community leader to utilise these free healthcare services taking place from June 11 to 15 in all the 18 local government areas. Together, we can give every mother a safer pregnancy and every child a healthier future.”
According to her, the beneficiaries would receive a range of essential services, including “routine immunisation, Vitamin A supplementation, deworming, nutrition screening, birth registration, malaria prevention for pregnant women, family planning, HIV counselling and testing as well as Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination for girls aged nine years.”
“I appreciate the governor for his relentless commitment to improving the health sector. I also salute our healthcare workers, development partners and stakeholders whose tireless efforts continue to make quality healthcare more accessible to our people in Cross River State,” Otu said.
Some of the healthcare workers present at the ceremony including the wife of the Governor, administered Vitamin A supplements and deworming tablets to children.
The 2026 Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week is aimed at expanding access to life-saving health interventions, reducing maternal and child mortality and promoting healthier families and communities throughout Cross River State.
 Week has commenced in Cross River State, southern Nigeria, with a call on mothers){kind=link}