ABUJA – (President’s Wife Office Report) – The Future – Assured Programme of the Wife of the President, Aisha Muhammadu Buhari has revealed that it has been supporting the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCH), since the inception of this administration by participating in the activities of States.
The Media Advisory issued lately by the Head of Communication in the Office of the Wife to the President, Suleiman Haruna indicates that so far, the programme has participated in activities of the North-East, North-Central and South-West Zones.
According to the report, recent statistics inform that Nigeria ranks fourth among countries with the highest rates of maternal mortality and second in neonatal deaths. It reveals that one of the causes of these poor indices is that women and children do not have access to essential health services, adding that this is worse in the underserved and hard – to – reach communities.
“Since 2010, the National Council on Health has marked a Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) Week as a strategy for achieving global health targets and to promote maternal and child health in the country. During the week, services such as immunization, de-worming of children below the age of five years, Vitamin A supplementation, Micronutrient supplements for women and children as well as nutrition assessment, family planning services, HIV testing and many other interventions are delivered to vulnerable populations and those in hard – to – reach areas,” the report explained.
“The week is marked twice a year in May and November. The November 2018 round has been scheduled to hold from the 19th to 23rd. Many States have established regularity in observing the week, but those that do not are encouraged to do so for the benefit of their citizens.”
Speaking further, the media advisory affirmed that Kebbi in the North West was hoisted as the fourth participation, saying a formal event was scheduled to flagg-off at Birnin Kebbi on the 21st of November, 2018.
While stressing that the objective of the event is to create awareness on the need for States to imbibe timely and regular observance of the week, the report disclosed that the event provides the full complement of services, taking into account States’ peculiarities as well as revamping primary healthcare centres, so that these services could be routine. Adding, the wives of governors are requested to champion these efforts in their States.
