By Yemi Olajutemu
Ado Ekiti
The wife of Ekiti State Governor, Dr. (Mrs) Olayemi Oyebanji has flagged-off the second round of 2023 Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW), with an emphasis that Ekiti State offers the most qualitative, affordable and accessible health care delivery in the South Western part of the country.
In her address at the ceremony, the First Lady, who was represented by the Commissioner for Education, Dr (Mrs) Adebimpe Aderiye said the
present administration since inception has embarked on the renovation
of all the primary and secondary health facilities in the State to ensure access to quality healthcare services and in as part of efforts to reduce morbidity and mortality rate in the State.
Dr. Oyebanji reiterated that the week-long programme was meant to provide basic health interventions through integrated approach in all
government health facilities and some designated centres in the 16 Local Government and 22 Local Council Development Areas of the State.
The Governor’s Wife lamented the 2018 Nigeria demography report that
showed the Nation had a mortality rate of 132 per 1000 live births while in the South West Geopolitical Zone had 62 per 1000 and Ekiti had 95 per 1000 live births.
She said with the efforts of the Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, in the health sector, the State has become one of the leading States with low
maternal and child death rate in Nigeria, appealing to mothers to avail themselves the opportunity presented by the 5-day food supplementation exercise to boost their health and well-being.
Dr. (Mrs) Oyebanji said the 61% success recorded in the first-round of the exercise this year was unacceptable, calling on the caregivers to intensify efforts at reaching the targeted beneficiaries.
In his opening remarks, the Commissioner for Budget, Economic Planning and Performance Management, Mr. Oyeniyi Adebayo said the programme which was established as Child Health Day (CHD) in 1929 by World
Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children Emergency Fund
(UNICEF) was domesticated by 134 countries in 2009 to improve on the
health and wellness of children below 5years and their mothers.
Adebayo said the integrated health delivery services was meant to give
Vitamin ‘A’ supplements to children between ages 6-59months, deworming
of 12-59months old children and offering of micro-nutrients supplements to pregnant women across the State.
The Commissioner said the exercise was not only free, but was safe and healthy, appreciating the development partners like the world Health Organization and UNICEF for their support at ensuring a safe and healthy a lot state.
In his welcome address, the Chairman, State Committee on Food and Nutrition, who also doubles as the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget,
Economic planning and performance Management, Barrister Olusola
Akinluyi described (MNCHN) as a “Simple one-time service delivery
mechanism that consolidates service geared towards significantly increasing coverage levels of all the core preventive and curative interventions that improve the health of mothers and children”
Akinluyi said the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week which was
introduced in Ekiti State in 2010 is aimed at reducing high rate of death among pregnant women, nursing mothers and children below five years of age to a low state through routine immunization, vaccines, vitamin ‘A’ supplements, deworming tablets, screening for
malnutrition, birth registration and promotion of other child protection services.
He expressed his appreciation to the Governor, Mr.Biodun Oyebanji for
his support at ensuring the success of the exercise.
Goodwill messages were delivered at the occasion by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) ,Dr Habibat Adubiaro, the State Head of Service (HOS), Engr. Sunday Komolafe, the Commissioner for health and Human Services, Dr. Oyebanji Filani, his Counterpart in the Ministry
of Environment, Chief (Mrs) Tosin Aluko as well as representatives of development partners and non-governmental organizations partnering the state government in primary health care matters.