The Bauchi State Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the State Primary Health Care Board, has launched the second round of this year’s Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW).
The MNCHW is a week-long initiative providing healthcare interventions to pregnant women, lactating mothers, infants, and children under the age of five.
Addressing the gathering, the wife of the state governor, Hajiya Aisha Bala Mohammed, emphasised the vital role women play in improving family healthcare.
Hajiya Mohammed urged them to cultivate nutritious foods in their backyards to protect their children and families from malnutrition.
She called on parents to avail their children the opportunity to benefit from the myriad of interventions being provided.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner of Health, Dr Sani Mohammed Dambam, highlighted significant progress made by the state, as reflected in the latest data from the 2023/2024 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS).
He stated that the state’s immunisation coverage for children aged twelve to twenty-three months had improved from 33% in 20I8 to 58% in the 2023/2024 data.
He explained that Penta 3 vaccine coverage increased substantially, and coverage for measles vaccines rose from 7% in the 2018 NDHS to 27% in the current survey.
The Commissioner however acknowledged the rise in maternal mortality rate, where he called for delivberate effort towards arresting the disturbing indices.
Also, the Chief of UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Office, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, noted that the Canadian government, in collaboration with UNICEF, had provided the state with over 4,300 bottles of Vitamin A (1,405,400) doses, valued at ₦65 million.
She added that, UNICEF extended direct cash assistance of ₦31.6 million to the state government, through the State Primary Health Care Board, to support health interventions for children.
