MNCHW: NPHCDA Commends USAID/BA-N as Ebonyi Targets 1.2 Million Pregnant Women, Children.
The National Primary HealthCare Development Agency has commended the United States Agency for International Development – funded Breakthrough Action –Nigeria, for its Social Behavioural Change advocacies and mobilization which has greatly increased demand for primary healthcare services in Ebonyi State.
Dr Yakubu Suleiman, the Senior Communication Specialist, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency gave the commendation on Friday during the official flag-off of the ongoing 2022 Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week
in Abakaliki, the State capital.
Speaking to newsmen, Suleiman noted with delight that the social mobilization activities of BA -N accounted for the very high turnout of women and children for the exercise in Ebonyi Communities, adding that demand for other basic health services has also increased by the combined efforts of the partners and the State government.
Suleiman said: "We have been asked to come and supervise the MNCHW.
"There is a lot of good news to convey to the national office about Ebonyi State: the ease and political commitment we have identified is one.
"We have been to some rural communities in Izzi and other Local government areas since my arrival, and I saw a large turnout of targeted population for the MNCHW.
"This shows the level of social mobilization the State has achieved through the support activities of Breakthrough Action - Nigeria, and other partners”
Yakubu further pledged to stimulate sustainability and increase intervention programmes extended to the State by the NPHCDA.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Daniel Umezurike had earlier disclosed that the State government was targeting to reach One Million, two hundred and sixty-four thousand, five hundred and six pregnant women and children with medical services in the 2022 MNCH week.
The Commissioner maintained that the State health system was focused on reducing maternal, child and infant morbidity and mortality to the barest minimum in line with the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs.
He stated that the targeted number would be reached through fixed and outreach vaccination strategies.
Umezurike explained: "MNCHW strategy is aimed at scaling up a package of key maternal, Newborn and child survival interventions that have been proven to reduce maternal, neonatal and child mortality, designed along the continuum of care model, to strengthen Nigeria's health system at all levels.
"Through the MNCHW of this year, we target to reach out to 169, 052 pregnant women with iron folate and folic acids; 608, 586 children under 5 years with Vitamin A; 486, 868 children under 5 with deworming tablets, using fixed and outreach vaccination strategies."
Umezuruike appreciated the invaluable support of development partners: WHO, UNICEF, USAID/ Breakthrough Action, Nigeria and USAID- Integrated Health Program towards the success of the event and other routine health services, ranging from capacity strengthening, provision of commodities, community mobilization, coordination, supportive supervision, among other interventions.
The Executive Secretary, State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Mrs Catherine Barry -Oko, in her address, commended the friendly disposition of the State government towards the health of mothers and their children, and enjoined primary health care workers in the State to sustain the zeal.
In their separate goodwill messages, Partners' representatives at the event: the Advocacy and Capacity Building Specialist for BA -N, Mrs Charity Odio; Emmanuel Okike for WHO and Oladipo Akinmade for IHP, appreciated the enabling environment provided by the State government for their smooth intervention programmes.
They pledged their continued availability and commitment in helping the State strengthen its health systems.
The event marked the first official flag-off of the MNCH Week in the State for the past three years due to the effect of COVID-19.