By Stephen Adeleye.
The Kogi Government has flagged off the first round of Maternal Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) Week, designed to deliver essential healthcare services to vulnerable populations across the state.
Speaking at the event at Government House Lokoja, the Wife of the Governor, Hajia Sefinat Usman Ododo, encouraged mothers and their children to take advantage of the program to access the essential healthcare services.
Mrs Ododo, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of Kogi State (SGS), Dr Folashade Ayoade, advised the pregnant women and nursing mothers to ensure they access hospital from time to time for antenatal care.
“I encourage our women to take care of themselves and their children by accessing the essential services available in the health facilities from time to times,” she said.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Adeiza Abdulazeez, said MNCH week initiative is a bi-annual program, designed to deliver essential healthcare services to vulnerable populations across the state.
Abdulazeez emphasised that the program seeks to improve health indices and promote well-being among women and children across the state.
According to him, the program is to increase awareness to promote key household practices, health-seeking behavior, and generate good demand for routine services.
“We are encouraging mothers and their children to have good demand on our healthcare facilities to ensure provision of basic and essential healthcare services,” he said.
The Executive Director, Kogi State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Musa. Mu’azu, said the program provides essential healthcare services for pregnant women, nursing mothers, and under-five children.
According to him, the first round of MNCHW holds from July 7th to 11th, 2025, in primary healthcare facilities and outreaches in hard-to-reach areas.
“We are flagging off three integrated programmes in one; the maternal, MNCH week, HPV Vaccination, and the commemoration of Safe Motherhood 2025.
“The MNCHW is to encourage the mothers to ensure that they access the essential services that we render in all our primary healthcare centers at any time.
“Interventions include: Vitamin A supplementation, deworming, Routine Immunization (RI) services, HPV Vaccination, and maternal health services, especially in underserved communities,” he said.
Mu’azu added that the HPV vaccination targeted at 9-year-old girls to prevent cervical cancer.
He noted that Kogi State Government made significant strides in HPV vaccination in 2024, with 284,750 eligible female vaccinated, achieving 99% coverage of the target population.
He emphasised that the MNCH Week aims to reduce maternal, newborn, and child mortality, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He encouraged women, parents, and caregivers to utilize healthcare services in all 21 LGAs and 239 wards across the state
Stakeholders at the event include: United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) UNICEF, World Health Organization (WHO), religious and traditional leaders, women groups, among others.
The stakeholders commended Kogi State government for the success achieved in MNCH in the last years, and assured the state of their continued support.
