The Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State on Wednesday reaffirmed the council’s commitment to providing quality healthcare services that will promote the well-being of mothers, newborns and children.
The Council’s Supervisor for Health, Mrs Folasade Ashafa made this known at the flag- off of Maternal, Newborn, Child Health Week (MNCHW) and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine Intensification exercise in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the exercise is in collaboration with the Lagos state government.
Ashafa explained that the exercise is aimed at improving maternal and child health outcomes across the local government.
She said the exercise would further reduce maternal and child mortality, strengthening routine immunisation and prevent vaccine-preventable diseases.
“The five-day exercise has commenced on Monday and it will run until Friday and is conducted across all Primary Health Care Centres, markets, schools and parks within the local government.
“Throughout the week-long campaign, residents will benefit from nutritional interventions, screening for severe acute malnutrition, and distribution of nutritional supplements.
“Other benefits are deworming tablets, routine immunisation, HPV vaccination for eligible nine-year-old girls, family planning services and antenatal care, all provided free.
“This is to ensure that residents have easy access to essential healthcare services,” she said.
Ashafa urged residents, particularly pregnant women, nursing mothers, caregivers and parents of eligible children, to take advantage of the free healthcare services throughout the exercise.
She said the exercise is part of the council’s commitment to improving public health and ensuring healthier families across the community.
Also speaking, the Medical Officer of Health in the state Ministry of Health, Dr Habiba Abdulkadir, highlighted the significance of the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week and the HPV Vaccine Intensification Exercise.
She encouraged parents, caregivers and pregnant women to take full advantage of the free healthcare services available throughout the exercise.
The Vice Chairman of the Council, Mrs Maureen Ashara, urged the beneficiaries to actively participate in the immunisation of children.
Ashafa said the council distributed essential medicines, nutritional supplements and insecticide-treated mosquito nets to mothers and caregivers.
In addition, the Health Education Officers conducted an interactive health education session where participants were enlightened on proper nutrition for mothers, infants and young children.
The officers also demonstrated appropriate methods of preparing nutritious complementary meals for babies using locally available food items, providing practical examples to encourage healthy feeding practices for newborns and young children.(NAN)
