The wife of Ekiti State Governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, has appealed to nursing mothers to prioritize exclusive breastfeeding for their Newborns as well as making them available for various stages of immunization in the ongoing exercise at different designated centres across the state.
Dr Oyebanji made the appeal at the flag-off of the second round of the year 2024 Maternal Newborn and Child Health MNCH week in Ekiti State.
The governor’s wife stated that the week was aimed at providing effective and quality basic health interventions such as maternal and childhood immunization, and administration of supplements to reduce child mortality.
She said the second round of free Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week, which began last Monday, will run till Friday in all government health facilities and some designated places across the 16 Local Government Areas and the 22 Local Council Development Areas.
The governor’s wife explained that during the exercise, de-worming tablets and vitamin supplements would be administered to children between ages 6 and 59 months, while pregnant women would have access to HIV screening services and medicinal items such as SP Folate and other healthcare commodities.
Earlier in his remarks, the Commissioner for Health and Human Services stated that the MNCH Week represents one of the various nutrition intervention programmes aimed promoting adequate food and optimal nutritional status that are the foundation of healthy lives.
Dr Filani disclosed that malnutrition was a major cause of maternal and child morbidity across the globe and that Nigeria in particular which he noted was occasioned by inadequate intake of nutritious food and access to solid health care, there's making the people susceptible to disease.
He appreciated the Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji for his commitment to the well-being and health of Ekiti residents adding that this has significantly improved health outcomes of the state in the recent time.
The flag-off ceremony had in attendance Commissioners, SSG, Ekiti Head of Service, Dr Folake Olomojobi, representatives of World Health Organization as well as the United Nations Children Education Fund among others.
While commending the Ekiti State government for consistently organizing the MNCH week, the UNICEF Nutrition Specialist at the event Mrs Ada Ezeogu charged nursing mothers and care givers to embrace exclusive breastfeeding and proper nutrition and eating habits that would enhance better growth of the child.
.jpeg)
0 Comments