By Inusa Ndahi, Maiduguri
The Borno State government through the Ministry of Health and Primary Health Care Development Agency, PHCDA, in collaboration with Alive & Thrive, also known as Fhi360, United Nations’ Children and Education Fund, UNICEF, and other development partners have flagged off campaign on Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Week, MNCHW, with the presentation of maternal kits to thousands of women/parents in the 26 local government areas of the state.
The campaign, which is bi-annual, would last for five days across the 26 local government areas and 488 sites, to improve the standard of living of underaged-children, deworming, Vitamin A supplementation, and nutritional screening; maternal nutrition and commplementary services in antenatal care; as well as health promotion benefits.
Declaring the weeklong programme opened at Jiddari/Polo Primary Health Care in Jere Local Government Area of Maiduguri metropolis on Monday, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health and Human Services, Dr. Mohammed Ghuluze, said that the MNCHW is dedicated to deliver an integrated package of highly cost-effective MNCH services/interventions.
Ghuluze averred that these interventions are those likely to immediately demonstrate impact by significantly increasing coverage levels of core preventive and curative
interventions that can improve the health of mothers and children, inline with Governor Babagana Zulum’s vision to transform the health sector of the state.
He said, “The week was introduced in Nigeria and in Borno specifically, amongst other measures, as a priority and strategic action
to accelerate the reduction of child mortality and improvement of maternal health, enroute to achieving the 4th and 5th Millenium Development Goals, MDGs.
“MNCHW serves as a complementary approach that does not replace, but rather,
leverages existing routine activities to provide enhanced service delivery, which consists of three distinct phases: the pre-implementation and planning
phase, the implementation phase, and the post-implementation phase.
“During this week, several crucial interventions will be carried out to improve maternal and child health outcomes. These interventions include: Vitamin A Supplementation, Deworming, Antenatal Care, ANC, and HIV Testing and Counseling, HTC.
“Others include; Health Promotion, KHHP, MUAC Screening, Distribution of Sulphadoxine-Pyrimethamine, SP, and Long-Lasting
Insecticidal Nets, LLIN, for pregnant women, Iron Folate for pregnant women, Immunization, Birth Registration and Child Spacing.”
Earlier in his welcome address, the Executive Director, Borno State Primary Health Care Development Agency, BoSPHCDA, Professor Mohammed Arab, said that these activities will be conducted in the 26
Local government areas of Borno State in 488 sites, specifically at the health facilities and fixed post levels.
Arab commended all development partners, especially Alive & Thrive – Fhi360 – UNICEF, WHO and traditional rulers for their support towards uplifting the health sector in the state.
He noted that “Vitamin A Supplementation alone has been shown to have significant benefits in reducing under-five mortality by up to 34 per cent. It also offers protection to children
from various diseases such as measles (up to 54 per cent, malaria, diarrhea, and pneumonia, up to 44 per cent.
Arab added, “In addition to combating worm infestations, deworming
has the added advantage of reducing the likelihood of other infections.”
Accordingly, he said, that Antenatal Care, ANC, services play a crucial role in providing pregnant women with essential supplementation, including multivitamins, tetanus toxoid, TT, vaccines, and Sulphadoxine-Pyrimethamine, SP.
Arab further said that “these programme will promotes key household practices, such as exclusive and complementary feeding,” adding that the use of Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets, LLINS, can have a significant impact on reducing malaria-related illnesses and deaths, as well as lowering the overall
under-five mortality rate by up to 25 per cemt, by ensuring that up to 80 per cent of individuals sleep under LLINS.
He concluded, “Lastly, undernutrition is a major contributor to a significant
number of deaths, with over 60 per cent of diarrhea deaths, 57 per cent of malaria deaths, and 52 per cent of pneumonia deaths being attributed to undernutrition.”
In his goodwill message, Borno State Coordinator of Alive & Thrive – Fhi360, Dr. Bashaar Abdul-Baki, said that as key partner to Borno State’s health system, his organization will continue to offer its support to ensure optimal quality of health services and improved geographical coverage across the state.
Also contributing, the Shehu of Borno, Dr. Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai Al-Amin Elkanemi, represented but his Focal Person on Health to the eight emirates, who is also the District Head of Damboa, Alhaji Zanna Lawan Maina, urged women and parents to always avail themselves to numerous health opportunities provided by the state government and other partners to have access to heathcare services and development in the state.
