Abia State Primary Health Care Development Agency with support from the office of the wife of Abia Governor, has flag off its 2023 Round 1, Maternal, Newborn and Child health week at Apumiri Ubakala in Umuahia South Local Government Area of the State.
Speaking at the flag off ceremony, the wife of the Governor, Mrs. Priscilla Otti, said that she is delighted that the programme is aimed at delivering an integrated packages of health care benefits to mother and child in the state.
She noted that the event will help to improve the health of women of child bearing age as well as children under the age of 5, years in Abia.
The Governor’s wife however frowned at the rate maternal and child death are increasing lately adding that the annoying part is that these deaths are preventable if we all work together to put in our best.
The Abia First Lady explained that any activity that will help to bring down the unacceptable high rate of maternal mortality is a welcome development and would receive the support of Gov. Alex Otti.
According to her, “one big importance of maternal, newborn and child health week which I must mention is the need for children under the age of 5, years to receive doses of vitamin A, supplements and deworming tablets twice each year. The packaged approach is particularly relevant for children above 12, months who hardly visit the health facility except for management of illnesses ” she said.
Mrs. Otti, advised women especially mothers whose children are under 12 months of age to avail themselves of this golden opportunity to reach out to health facilities to improve their children vitamin A, status and general health services.
Abia First Lady Immunizing A Child At the Maternal/Newborn Week Programme.
She also call on health care workers, the media to update themselves on practical skills and sensitization needed to make our health services delivery better.
In her remarks, the Head of Service, Umuahia South LGA, Mrs. Jane Onwutuebe, stated that Umuahia South was fortunate to be the first place the wife of the Governor came to flag off this programme .
According to her, “the government of Abia state is very much committed to this programme because it’s an intervention geared towards delivering quality health care services by giving out vitamin A, anti malaria drugs, deworming tablets, sensitisation to improve the general wellbeing of the mother and child in Abia” she said.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Ngozi Okoronkwo, said that what we are witnessing here today shows that the administration of Governor Otti, places premium on affordable health care services to Abians.
According to her, within a short period of planning, we are able to flag off this programme, and it is not just flagging off, Abia under Otti is poised to rebuild, train health care providers and equip about 292, primary health facilities in the state so that even those in the rural areas can easily assess health services within their locality.
In his contribution, the Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Hemuka Rock, said that Abia state government with all it key partners are not relenting in providing quality health care services to its people.
However, he advised mothers and pregnant women to key in to health care interventions as provided by the government and call on the media to strengthen their sensitization campaign on maternal, newborn and child health.
Meanwhile, in their goodwill messages, the representative of World Health Organisations, Unicef Mrs. Onochie Victoria, representative of National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Mr. Ben Egwu, all thanked the wife of Abia Governor, Mrs Otti, for her support adding that the development partners are deeply engaged and are delighted with the level of commitment Abia state government has shown so far.
Unicef is always available to ensure that every child in Abia is provided with quality health care services.
