Nigeria, June 9, 2016 – The Lagos State Government has reiterated its resolve to continue with the implementation of activities and strategies geared towards reduction of maternal and child deaths in the State through its maternal and child mortality reduction programme, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Primary Health Care, Dr Olufemi Onanuga has said.
Onanuga who made this known at a press briefing noted that the State government will not relent on its oars at ensuring that preventive measures against maternal and child deaths are embraced to ensure that maternal and child health are available.
According to him, maternal, peri-natal and child (under 5 year) health indices have emerged as the most important health indices that determine global and national wellbeing adding that the 2013 National Demographic Survey, same with Lagos for neonatal, infant, under- 5 children and mothers are far from cheering.
The Special Adviser added that the 2013 national Maternal Mortality Rates of 576/100,000 live births compared with the 2010 data of 545/100,000 live births is an indication that everyone has to up the ante concerning maternal and child health interventions.
“It is for this reason that I fully lend my voice and support to the Integrated Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Strategy adopted in Nigeria as a panacea to frontally tackle the twin issue of maternal and child mortality”, Onanuga said.
Speaking on the state of preparedness of the State government to implement the first round of year 2016 MNCH Week slated to hold between Monday 13th and Friday 17th June, 2016, the Special Adviser explained that a wide range of high-impact and low-cost package of protective, preventive and promotive services will be provided to the whole family during the week in an integrated manner.
“These services will include routine immunization; Vitamin A supplementation; growth monitoring and promotion, screening for malnutrition and appropriate counseling and referral; administration of de-worming medicine, and distribution of informative, educative and communicative materials”, he said.
The Special Adviser added that tetanus toxoid will be given to all women of child-bearing-age stressing that medical counseling on key household practices such as exclusive breastfeeding, hand washing, oral rehydration therapy, as well as home management for fever and diarrhoea will also be provided for caregivers and other target groups.
“Family planning services will be available to couples and other eligible groups; there will also be antenatal care services for pregnant women who attend the clinic and these women will be given blood building drugs, long lasting insecticide nets to prevent malaria in pregnancy as well as other relevant drugs”, Onanuga stated.
While noting that the 57 Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas in the State will flag-off this program to create the necessary awareness and mobilization of the target population, he urged parents and caregivers to take advantage of the weeklong activities offered by the MNCH week and ensure that they benefit by accessing the services at any of the Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs) or health posts nearest to them.
“The parents of school age children should also ensure they give their consent to the schools so that their wards can benefit from the nutritional assessment that will be provided; please note that all these beneficial services will be provided free of charge throughout the Week”, The Special Adviser added.
