By Chuks Ofurnm
Imo state governor, Rochas Okorocha has flagged-off the 2nd round of 2018 Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW).
The governor who was represented by his wife Nneoma Nkechi Okorocha, said the programme was meant to secure the health of the children, stressing that the health of Imo citizens cannot be toiled with.
According to the governor, his government has made significant inputs to the health sector in the state and commended the commissioner and staff of the Health ministry for doing a good job.
Earlier in her address, the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Angela Uwakwem said the MNCH Week is a Primary Health care strategy to accelerate child survival and development with the ultimate goal of reduction in child mortality, stressing that it is a regular event organized to deliver an integrated package of preventive services known to be highly cost- effective for improving maternal and child health and survival that are run in conjunction with routine services at health facilities.
According to the Commissioner, this round of MNCH will continue in all the Health centres and outreaches in the state and will involve the administration of Vitamin A supplement and Nutrition, screening to children 6 months to 59 months of age, de-worming of children 1 year to 5 years, routine immunization/vaccination to children less than one year who have completed their routine immunization schedule, Conseling on appropriate infant feeding Practices, Ante Natal care, HIV testing and Cunseling, health education on appropriate hand washing, distribution of long Lasting insecticide Treated Nets etc.
She further disclosed that the ministry of Health is collaborating with the National Population Commission to implement birth registration of children less than five years along with other health intervention exercises, saying Imo State has never missed any round since the inception of MNCHW in 2010 and has recorded success in the past 17 rounds which the major achievements is the identification and treatment/management of malnourished children across the 27 LGA’s of the state.
Uwakwem thanked the partners and governor Okorocha for their encouragement, and the people of Owerri Municipal for hosting the flag-off.
Nigeria Horn
