Osun begins Maternal Health Week
From Fisayo Akinduro, Osogbo
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The Osun state government will today, (Monday) kick off the Maternal New-born and Child Health Week (MNCHW) across the 332 primary healthcare facilities in the state.
The State Health Promotion Officer, Mr. Adewoye Adewole who made this known during a stakeholders’ meeting in Osogbo, noted that Primary Healthcare facilities across the state will render free health intervention services during the one-week programme.
Part of the interventions lined up for the week long programme according to Adewole include; administration of Vitamin A for babies from 0 month to 5 years, immunization for children from 0 month to 5 years, deworming for children from 12 months to 5 years, eye testing for 0 month to 5 year old children, administration of iron foliates to pregnant mothers.
Others include; health education for hand washing, family planning, HIV testing for pregnant women, distribution of Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLIN) for pregnant women and testing for malnourishment among children.
The programme according to the Health Promotion Officer will be a facility based intervention and pregnant women and mothers are expected to visit health facilities with their children where these interventions would be administered.
Adewole further explained that Osun being a leading state in terms of health care provision is the first to kick off the first round of the programme for the year.
He urged mothers and pregnant women in the state to take advantage of the exercise.
He also revealed that the principal partners are UNICEF, World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Osun State Government through the State Ministry of Health.
Adewole said the programme would start by 8am through 4pm on each day and as such community and religious leaders, market women, local government officials among others have been adequately sensitised.
