The Lagos State Government has reported that it has provided training to over 3,000 healthcare workers to deliver routine immunizations, deworming treatments, and vitamin A supplements to children in conjunction with the beginning of the Biannual Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health plus Nutrition Week.
During a press conference held on Tuesday, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, the Special Adviser to the state governor on Health, announced this initiative, noting that it coincides with the 2024 World Breastfeeding Week running from August 1 to 7.
This initiative was established by the Federal Ministry of Health in partnership with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and all 36 states in Nigeria to enhance the delivery of preventive and cost-effective maternal and child health services.
Ogunyemi emphasized that the goal of the MNCAH week is to heighten public awareness and fortify primary healthcare services in health institutions across the state.
According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), 12 million out of the 35 million children under the age of five in Nigeria suffer from stunted growth caused by malnutrition. Nigeria is ranked by UNICEF as the top country in Africa and second globally in terms of malnourished children.
The 2018 National Demographic and Health Survey revealed that one in three Nigerian children experiences stunting. UNICEF highlighted the significance of the first 1,000 days of a child’s life as a critical period to prevent undernutrition and its associated effects.
Stunting, characterized by low height for the child’s age, is a type of chronic malnutrition that poses risks of developmental setbacks and compromised cognitive growth among affected children.
In continuation of the event, Ogunyemi reiterated the importance of addressing malnutrition challenges and enhancing the well-being of children in Lagos State.
“I do not doubt that these week-long activities will be a tremendous success as all the 329 primary health care centres and the 752 mobile teams have been well informed and trained on the implementation strategies.
“The mobile team will be visiting creches, schools, and playing grounds to administer the warming tablets, and vitamin A to eligible children.
“Over 3,000 health workers have been trained to administer the following interventions, routine immunisation, vitamin A supplementation for children from six to 59 months of age, de-warming of children between the ages of 12 to 59 months, malnutrition screening in children of ages six to 59 months.
“Others are Human Immunodeficiency virus and tuberculosis screening for children, women and men, counselling of caregivers and nursing mothers on maternal, infant and young child nutrition.
“The inventions also include food demonstration classes for nursing mothers and caregivers, administration of multiple micronutrient supplements to pregnant women and nursing mothers, family planning services for women and men of reproductive ages, that is 15 to 49 years.
“All designated centres, that is all Primary Health care Centres, will open daily from 8am to 4pm.”
Ogunyemi thanked the community, and traditional and religious leaders for their cooperation and unflinching support towards World Breastfeeding Week, MNCAH, and Nutrition Week and urged every Local Government Chairman to support the massive mobilisation of mothers and under-five children.
“I appeal to the Executive Chairman to also flag up these two events at the LGAs and LCDAs to create the publicity required to mobilise the eligible women and children to the health facilities across the state. Let us remember that healthy women bring forth healthy babies that will also guarantee a healthy society,” she noted.
