Agege Local Government in collaboration with Lagos State Primary Health Care Board and Health District 1, on Tuesday flagged off Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health Plus Nutrition Week.
The flag-off was held at the Primary Health Centre (PHC), Sango Area, Agege, and to be held in all the PHCs across the community.
Dr Sola Pitan, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Health District 1, said that the programme was to draw attention to maternal, newborn and adolescent health.
“This is to call attention to maternal care, adolescent health, neonatal and child health for all our people,” Pitan said.
He said that the initiative was to take services to communities, unlike routine care at the 330 primary health centres across the state.
According to him, Health District 1 currently has 62 centres, and additional ones will be established.
Pitan said that the week would create awareness on family planning, breastfeeding, and adolescent health programmes available in Lagos.
He said that Lagos remained a leading force in health delivery with pharmacists, lab scientists, nurses and midwives working in every primary centre.
“We are winning. Maternal, neonatal and infant mortality will keep dropping,” Pitan said.
He urged residents to register for Ilera Eko, the state’s health insurance scheme, for affordable healthcare.
“Pay once yearly and access services without out-of-pocket expenses,” the permanent secretary said.
The Chairman, Agege Local Government, Mr Abdul-Ganiyu Obasa, said that the event targeted zero maternal and child mortality.
“So this event is to bring maternal and child mortality to zero, it talks about nutrition and family planning,” Obasa said.
He said that the council had equipped health centres and was building more to improve access.
“We are providing equipment and support, we have built six PHCs and will increase to 18,” Obasa said.
He urged residents to take advantage of free services and enrol in health insurance for treatments and emergencies.
Obasa also urged attendees to embrace family planning.
Also in attendance were some medical practitioners led by Dr Olubunmi Ayegbusi, the Medical Officer of Health in Agege Local Government. (NAN)
