Lagos holds MNCH Week

• Promises ‘robust integrated services’ to citizens from July 3 to 7

As part of its commitments towards improving maternal health indices in the State and the reduction of child morbidity and mortality, the Lagos State Ministry of Health has announced a 5- day “robust integrated services” for its citizens as the state holds the First Round of 2017 Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCH) from July 3 to 7.
According to the Special Adviser to Gov. Akinwumi Ambode on Primary Health Care, Dr Olufemi Onanuga who revealed this at a press briefing earlier today, the “robust integration of services” woud include a wide range of high-impact, low-cost, protective, preventive and promotive services for families.
“These will include routine immunization; Vitamin A supplementation; growth monitoring and promotion, screening for malnutrition and appropriate counselling/management/referral; distributions of deworming medicine, and distribution of Information Education and Communication (IEC) materials aimed at improving the health seeking behaviour.
“In addition, tetanus toxoid will be given to women of child-bearing –age, who will also be counselled on the household practices like exclusive breastfeeding, complementary feeding and basic hygiene. Antenatal care and family planning services will be provided. It is thus a week for maternal, newborn and child health survival structure i.e the Primary Health Care system,” Dr Onanuga said.
Speaking further, he said: “IEC material provided for the programme, cover topical issues such as danger signs in pregnancy, birth preparedness, exclusive breastfeeding, 10 steps to successful pregnancy, and nutrition in pregnancy etc. Maternal Health Booklets, comprehensive health promoting home-based booklet which provides information on birth planning, pregnancy-related health checks-up schedule emergency care, delivery information, postnatal care are available.
“Child Health Booklets provide guidelines on keeping babies warm, immunization, hand washing, use of oral rehydration therapy to treat diarrhea, home management of fever etc.”
Dr. Onanuga also promised that pregnant women who attend the clinic would be given long lasting insecticide treated nets (LLITNs) and Intermittent Preventive Treatment for malaria in the pregnancy and “pluses” such as hypo bleach would be given to the clients to maintain cleanliness at home.

He however charged the 57 Local Government Areas, (LGA) and the Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) to flag off the programme as it will create awareness for enhanced mobilization of the target population to all the PHCs throughout the state.
He also urged the Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) in the State to ensure they are registered, and continue to refer patients early and be conversant with the danger signs in pregnancy and newborns. He also implored women to notify the authorities of any unregistered quacks and charlatans in their neighborhood.
“I therefore wish to inform the good people of Lagos State especially caregivers to take their under-five children to any of the PHCs nearest to them for these mentioned services that will be given to them free of charge this week,” he said while advising mothers and caregivers to continue to avail themselves of these preventive, promotive and protective health services even after the celebration of the week in order to drastically reduce maternal and child morbidity and mortality.
To the traditional and religious leaders, he pleaded: “I also want to seize this opportunity to plead with all our leaders in the community, (traditional and religious leaders) to take full responsibility of ensuring that all the targeted groups are reached and effectively mobilized to the PHCs during this Week long celebration.”
He also urged and encouraged every Sole Administrator of the LGAs and LCDAs to be extremely committed and go extra mile towards the success of the MNCH Week by deploying interventions to promote the health of the mothers and children.