Abia state Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu has flagged off the Free Modified Intergrated Medical Outreach Program(mI-MOP) aimed at improving Immunization and primary health care service delivery in targeted low performing Local Government Areas of the state.
The Modified Integrated Medical Outreach Program is a Federal Government initiative aimed at improving primary healthcare outputs in underserved areas in Nigeria.
Speaking during the event, organised by the state Ministry of Health and Primary Health Care Development Agency, in Mgboko,Obingwa Local Government Headquarters, Governor Ikpeazu pointed out that the program was initiated to address poor response to healthcare interventions and charged Abians to improve their health seeking behaviour.
The Governor represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Joe Osuji, noted that results from national immunisation survey revealed that many local government areas in Abia have very low performance in core primary health care indicators such as immunisation, family planning, sleeping under insecticide treated net, delivering under skilled birth attendants among others.
He said: “We have challenges in the health seeking behavior of some care givers. Some care givers claim that they are not aware of primary health care services.
“Some do not have faith in immunisation while some say that primary health care centers are far away from their locations. This program is being introduced to bridged the gap”.
Ikpeazu therefore called on traditional rulers, religious and community leaders as well as all stakeholders to mobilize women of childbearing age from 15-49 years and children of 0-2years to take advantage of the free health intervention program.
In their separate speeches, representatives of the Partner Agencies , UNICEF Consultant – Mr Tivlumun Akpen and Director General ,National Primary Healthcare Development Agency Abuja – Mr Benson Adodo extolled the high level of support by the Abia state government which they said have made the health care services at the local government and state levels easy.
They noted that the second and third rounds of the program will hold on November and December this year to get children vaccinated against killer diseases.
In his speech, the Executive Secretary,Abia State Primary Health Care Development Agency,Dr. Chinagozi Adindu regretted that the COVID-19 pandemic has further worsened the already poor maternal and child indices in Nigeria,pointing out that the aim of the program is to improve Immunization and primary health care services delivery in targeted low performing Local Government Areas of the state.
While noting that the program would run from October 12 to 16, Adindu said that the Fixed Post, Temporary Fixed Posts and Mobile Fixed Post Outreach strategies would be used in conducting the program while strategies such as Town announcers,house to house mobilisers and other outreaches would also be used by the agency to cover affected areas.
According to him,services that will be rendered include: Immunization, Nutrition, Family Planning, screening on COVID 19, counseling on HIV/AIDs, treatment of minor ailments among others adding that the program would be executed in Arochukwu, Aba North , Aba South, Isiala Ngwa South, Obingwa, Ukwa East, and Ukwa West local government areas of the state respectively.
He urged the people to visit any nearby health facility to receive these free health interventions.
In his remarks, the Transition Committee Chairman, Obingwa LGA,Chief Kingsley Nnaji noted the strides of Governor Ikpeazu towards providing quality healthcare services to Abians stressing that the mI- MOP would further improve the health and wellbeing of the citizenry particularly the children and mothers.
The event featured Immunization of children between 0-2 years and presentation of certificates to children who had completed the routine Immunization process.
