Kwara flags-off weeklong health intervention, targets 300,000 Beneficiaries

The Kwara State Government, through the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, on Wednesday flagged off a weeklong Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW) aimed at reducing morbidity and mortality rates among women and children in the state.

The initiative, which targets 100,000 women, including pregnant women and 200,000 children under five, underscores the government’s commitment to enhancing healthcare delivery for vulnerable populations.

Speaking during the flag-off ceremony ilorin, the wife of the governor, Ambassador Olufolake Abdulrazaq, described the Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW) as a week-long initiative organized by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), State Primary Health Care Development Agencies and the State Ministries of Health.

Ambassador Abdulrazaq noted that initiatives like the Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week play a crucial role in reducing childhood mortality and morbidity.

She emphasized that adequate awareness and utilization of healthcare services significantly contribute to lowering maternal and child mortality rates.

The Kwara First Lady also expressed appreciation and commendation for the Governor of Kwara State, Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, for his unwavering efforts to improve the health sector and consistently implement measures to ensure inclusive, prompt, and effective healthcare services for all Kwarans.”

On her Part, Dr. Nusirat Elelu, the Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Primary HealthCare Development Agency, said that the program represents another health initiative by the state government, adding that earmarked medical services would be made available in all the 193 wards of the state from July 15th to 19th to ensure increased utilization of low cost and high impact interventions during the period.

Elelu, who said that the maternal and infant morbidity indices were still high, however, added that the commitment of the Kwara State Government is changing the narrative in the state, “as Kwara state has one of the lowest under-5 mortalities in the country according to the result of the UNICEF Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MCS).

“The Kwara State Government is
deliberate about issues related to mothers and children as evidenced in all our interventions across health, women affairs and social development.” She added.