Pulse.ng : KSPHCB Flags Off Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week

By Sani Idris

The Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board (KSPHCB) has conducted the 2024 first round of the Maternal,
Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW).

The weeklong event, which was observed from Monday, 10th to Friday 14h June 2024, took place cross the 23 LGAs of Kaduna State.

The flag off was carried out on Tuesday 11th June 2024, at PHC Bayan Dutse, Narayi, Chikun LGA by the Governor of Kaduna, Sen. Uba Sani.

Sani, was represented by the state's Commissioner of Health, Hajiya Umma Ahmed.

Present at the flag off were development partners which included UNICEF, SOLINA and ROTARY, among others.

Speaking during the flag off, Mrs Victoria Adams of Alive and Thrive, reminded stakeholders that iit is a collective responsibility to ensure that effective health services are provided and
accessed.

Also speaking about Alive and Thrive's refocus
on Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) and its importance during pregnancy, Adams urged all stakeholders to support its promotion, uptake and utilization in Kaduna State when it gets available.

She emphasized the need for proper data documentation during the week, noting that it is the foundation of evidence that could be used to support or refute claims.

Adams equally it would support evidence-based programming and resource allocation for
the State.

As the MNCHW unfolded, the Nutrition Focal Persons (NFPs) of Chikun, Kaduna North and Kaduna South LGAs were seen sensitizing health workers, pregnant women and mothers on MMS.

This, was also captured in PHC Kakau, PHC Gonion Gora, PHC Badarawa, PHC Badikko and PHC Unguan Sanusi, among others.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the MNCHW, a week-long event is organized by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), State Primary Health Care development agencies, and the State Ministries of Health.

The goal of MNCHW is to improve the health and well-being of mothers and children by providing access to essential health services.

Some of the services provided during MNCHW include routine immunization, vitamin A supplementation, Antenatal Care, newborn care, butrition screening and growth nonitoring.

Others are hand washing with soap or ashes, exclusive breastfeeding, deworming and postnatal care, among others.