Cross River kicks off this year's Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week at Bogobiri, Muslim Suburb in Calabar
Cross River kicks off health week for pregnant women, children
[From ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar]
Cross River Government has kicked off this year’s Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week at Bogobiri, Muslim Suburb in Calabar.
The program is a high impact health intervention with partnership with the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency and other development partners.
This year’s exercise, according to Dr. Janet Ekpenyong, the Director General of the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, will target 930, 000 mothers and children.
These she said comprise 30, 000 pregnant mothers who will be given mosquito nets and other supplements while 900,000 children will be vaccinated against polio.
“During this year’s MNCHW, 900,000 will be given the Inactivated Polio Vaccines while 30,000 pregnant women will receive medical kits and access services.
“This is an opportunity to ensure that pregnant women have access to all supplements and also ensure that children are dewormed and access needed vaccines”, she said.
She said the exercise is high impact because it will help to bridge the gap occasioned by the COVID-19 crisis.
Also speaking, Dr. Betta Edu, the State Health Commissioner said the idea is to reach women and children where they are with the best services.
She said the Inactivated Polio Vaccines are now being administered so that we don’t have a polio outbreak in the state.
She emphasized that the government is committed to reducing the mortality of pregnant mothers and children to a very insignificant level and ultimately achieve universal health coverage.
On her part, Dr. Lynda Ayade while officially flagging off the exercise pleased with the people to key into the exercise.
She said the state does not want to lose children and pregnant mothers due to circumstances that can be avoided.
She promised to set up a branch of CROWEI in Bogobiri to enable the Muslim women get timely information and needed assistance when the need arises.
