Anambra State Government Flags Off First Round of Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week 2021

By David Okpokwasili

Governor Willie Obiano has appealed to nursing mothers and pregnant women to make judicious use of the ongoing maternal, newborn and child health week currently ongoing in all the primary health care centre in the state to attend to their health needs and that of their children.

Governor Obiano made the call at Primary Health Center, Isiagu, Awka South Local Government Area at the flag off of the first round of Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week 2021 in the State.

Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week 2021 which started in Anambra State on Monday July 12 and will end of Sunday July 18 is a bi-annual event targeted towards improving the health status of Nigerian women and children by increasing coverage of key maternal, newborn and child health interventions.

The interventions that will be covered include nutrition screening called mid upper arm conference, Vitamin A, Birth Registration, Family Planning, Long Lasting Insecticidal Treated Nets, Deworming, Ante-natal care: Iron Folate, Tetanus Toxoid Vaccination, Sulphadoxime Pyrimethamine, health education sensitization on key household practices such as hand washing, breastfeeding, Routine Immunization for BCG, Yellow Fever Vaccination and HIV counseling and testing.

Governor Obiano represented at the event by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Vincent Okpala stated that event is in keeping with the efforts by the state Government to provide standard, accessible and affordable health care at the primary health centres in the State.

He said this will help reduce the incidence of malnutrition and Maternal mortality in the State.

Present at the event were the wife of the Governor, Dr Mrs Ebelechukwu Obiano reprensented by the Executive Secretary, Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Chioma Ezenyimulu, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Mr Linus Nwankwo, the Chairman, Board of Directors, Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Professor Josephat Ogbuagu, the Representative of World Health Organization, Dr Chukwuma Igboekwu, the National Commissioner, National Population Commission, Mr Chidi Ezeoke representsed by the State Director of the Commission, Dr Joachin Ulasi, Transition Committee Chairman, Awka South Local Government Area, Mr Leo Nwuba, the Traditional of Isiagu Community, Igwe Augustine Nwankwo and many other stakeholders in the community and health sector of the State.