MINISTRY OF PRIMARY HEALTH CARE FLAGS OFF MATERNAL AND NEW BORN CHILD HEALTH WEEK IN BOSSO.
By:Habiba Etsu.
Niger State Ministry of Primary Health Care has flagged off the 2nd round of the November/December Optimized Maternal Newborn and Child Health week which took place at the Primary Health Care Centre (PHCC)* in Bosso, Minna recently.
The Niger State Deputy Governor, Comr. Yakubu Garba who was represented by the Commissioner for Local Government and Cheiftaincy affairs, Hon. Mua’zu Aminu Jantabo while flagging off the excersice, Said the State Government will continue to do everything possible to ensure easy access to quality health care services by all.
The Deputy Governor stated that the event is a demonstration of the administration’s commitment towards reducing maternal and child mortality in the State.
While appreciating the efforts of the state Primary Health Care workers and other support groups such as development Partners in ensuring the well-being of Mothers and children, the Deputy Governor noted that Maternal and Newborn Child Heath Week has become a veritable platform for reaching the vulnerable and underserved populations with life-saving essentials, adding that it is one of the numerous programmes that will revamp the decayed healthcare infrastructural system alongside other health interventions to ensure a healthy life for the people of Niger state.
Earlier the Honourable Commissioner of Niger state Ministry of Primary Health Care Dr. Ibrahim Ahmed Dangana said the event is a symbolic mark of the leadership commitment and fulfilment of the revitalisation and restructuring of the health care sector in the state by the current administration.
Dr Ibrahim Dangana in his speech at the flag – off ceremony stated that Pre- maternal, Newborn and Child Health week has evolved over the last decades as a major platform to reach women and children with essential medical services and commodities especially in hard to reach areas in Niger State.
He further revealed that the State Governor Hon. Umar Muhammed Bago has approved the recruitment of additional 1,000 health care workers in the health sector of the state to improve services, adding that approvals have also been made for the gradual renovation, upgrade and equiping of all the Focal Public Health Care Centers across the three senatorial zones in the state.
Also, In her address, the Chairperson of Bosso Local Government Area Council, Hon. Ladidi Bawa Bosso while appreciating Governor Umar Muhammed Bago for making Primary Health Care one of the top priorities in his administration’s agenda, said the second round of the celebration of the maternal Newborn and Child Health week is geared towards prioritising lives, ensuring a healthy future
which aligns with the desire to place the health and wellbeing of pregnant women, newborn and children at the forefront of the the State Government’s development agenda.
She then pledged the Council’s support to the Government, in the renovation, remodeling and upgrading of major Focal Health Centers (FHC) across all the 274 wards in the 25 Local Governments in the State. She added that the requisite number of human resources for health that will ensure optimal effecient and effective service delivery, will be employed and posted to these wards accordingly.
In an interview, the Director Primary Health Care Bosso Local Government, Hassan Usman Bosso said the flag off ceremony is a good sign of government’s commitment towards the health needs of both pregnant women and children, he called on the women to avail themselves and their children for the the health week.
Some of the services to be provided during the health week according to Hajiya Asmau Muhammed, the State Nutrition Officer include iron tablets, folic acid supplementation for women, provision of long lasting insecticide treated nets, vitamin A supplementation, Routine Immunisation for all vaccine preventable diseases, deworming of children under ages 0 – 5 yea
