Health authorities in Bauchi State have mapped 1,320,951 children between 0-59 months to receive nutritional supplement and deworming therapy as part of its 2023 Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week.
WikkiTimes gathered that 412,797 pregnant women are billed to receive iron folate and antenatal care across 646 healthcare facilities. This, according to the officials, is to achieve universal health coverage in the state.
Speaking during a flagging-off ceremony of the 2023 health week at Gida-Dubu Primary Health Care Center, Bauchi State First Lady, Hajiya Aisha Bala Mohammed said the week-long event is a bi-annual event to accelerate actions for promoting and substantially contribute to improving maternal, newborn and child health indicators in Bauchi.
She said medicinal and nutritional interventions will be egiven freely to mothers and children under fiveyears of age, as another critical step in reducing the high rate of maternal and child morbidity and mortality in the state.
The First Lady who was represented by the state Commissioner of Health, Dr. Sabiu Abdu Gwalabe called on parents to support the effort of the present administration in the project by accessing the services provided during the MNCH week.
On his part, the Permanent Secretary for Bauchi State Ministry of Health, Ali Babayo Gamawa who represented the commissioner for health at the occasion said: According to the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS 2018), Nigeria has the second highest burden of maternal mortality in the world and contributes to approximately 15 percent of the annual total of global maternal deaths.
The commissioner noted that most of the deaths are caused by haemorrhage, infection, toxemia, anaemia, obstructed labour, malaria and unsafe abortions.
He explained that the intervention will be provided in two Health Facilities per ward across the state with over one thousand health care workers to be engaged to administer Vitamin A to about 1.5 children from 6 months to 59 months.
In their separate goodwill messages, donor partners including Breakthrough Action Nigeria, USAID-IHP 360 appreciated the good working atmosphere provided by the state government and promised more intervention to the people of the state.
