By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
Oyo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Azeez Adeduntan has declared that the state government is to commence another round of Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) week on Monday.
Dr Adeduntan while disclosing this in Ibadan said the programme which will hold across all the Local Government Areas (LGAs) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state is slated for between January 8 and 12.
The Commissioner for Health, stressed that health officers will also go round schools to administer Vitamin A to the pupils and that during the MNCH week, “pregnant women, nursing mothers and children between 0-59 months will benefit from the free medical services including Vitamin A, HIV Screening, Malnutrition Screening,”
Dr Adeduntan added that there will also be provision of Family planning commodities, birth registration, deworming tablets for children of 12-59 months as well as provision of Malaria drugs for pregnant women, adding that, parents of children between 6months to 59months are expected to bring their wards to the health facilities and outreach centres provided by the government for the programme.
Dr Adeduntan stated that the programme will hold at 702 health facilities as well as 702 outreaches and that children under 5years would benefit from Vitamin A supplementation that will be administered on them, saying that Vitamin A is essential for the targeted children in order to boost their immune system, improve their sight as well as to prevent measles and other related skin diseases.
According to the Commissioner, “the programme is organized in collaboration with Save One Million lives for Result, stressing “Pregnant women and Nursing mothers are therefore reminded that this 5-day nutrition and health interventions are free.”
