Delta to Mark Maternal, Newborn, Child Health Week with free Medical Services for  Residents

By Josephine Idiovwan

Delta State Primary Health Care Development Agency ( PHCDA) with support from Immunization Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services (IMPACT) Delta, Save Million Lives and UNICEF has concluded arrangement to mark the first phase of the 2023 maternal, newborn and child health week with free healthcare services for  residents.

The weeklong program will run from June 23 _ 29, 2023 in all Local government areas of  the State. 

Speaking during the event’s  social mobilization committee meeting, the Permanent Secretary of PHCDA ,Dr. Winful- Orieke Jude said the program will offer diagnosis, treatment, vaccines to pregnant women, children, adolescent girls and adults.

Explaining that the exercise is aimed at reducing maternal and child mortality in the State, Dr. Jude said that occasion  will present services on immunization, counseling, HIV test, screening for Tuberculosis, reproductive health, hypertension, deworming hypertension, malaria  and nutrition.

While Stating that health care workers will be visiting schools, worship centers, markets as well as communities to implement the exercise, he noted that Primary Health Care Centers can be accessed for their services.

He added that   healthcare workers will also  visit communities, religious centers, schools, Market and other public places to offer  their free medical services.

His words “this program is organized twice a year, the maternal newborn and child health week, where we integrate all our primary health care programs to target groups in various communities.

“Pregnant women, children below five years of age, Adolescent girls, all these groups are taken into consideration with various services taken to them to ensure they are healthy.”

Emphasizing the importance of vaccination, he said “ pregnant women are to be vaccinated. At birth a child is supposed too be vaccinated. Hepatitis vaccine, all vaccines are important because if the baby doesn’t have these vaccine the baby is going to have those diseases that could lead to death.”

“We encourage that babies are properly vaccinated and nourished” he added.

While observing that the vaccination rate on covid 19 is still low in Delta, he stated that the disease still exist despite emergency measures being over, adding that Population immunization is key for community protection.

The Permanent Secretary however urged all the participants to inform others about the upcoming event so as ensure compliance.

Responding, representatives from the media, Ministries, Market , Christian Association of Nigeria, Muslim groups, education sector and others all agreed to work towards the successful implementation of the program.