Abuja -Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, Executive Secretary, FCT Primary Health Care Board (PHCB), has called on residents of the territory to embrace Maternal, Newborn and Child Healthcare (MNCH) programmes.
Mohammed made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday, adding that the ongoing MNCH Week was organised to ensure that newborn babies received basic healthcare services.
He said MNCH week, introduced by the Federal Ministry of Health in 2006, was meant to integrate activities that would enhance healthy growth of the child, including interventions on malaria and tuberculosis.
“I want to use this opportunity to reiterate the urgency and need for all of us to embrace this programme.
“No eligible woman, newborn or child should miss any of these packages of care,’’ he said.
Mohammed said that the programme, organised twice every year, was expected to create awareness on maternal, newborn and child healthcare at the grassroots.
He further said that the week would provide healthcare activities like routine immunisation against vaccine preventable diseases for children, aged 0-11 months.
“There will be growth monitoring and promotion and food demonstration, vitamin A supplementation for children between 6 to 59 months.
“There will also be de-worming of children, 12 to 59 months, nutrition screening of children, 6-59 months, birth registration, family planning services and hand washing demonstration, ” he said.
NAN reports that oral rehydration salt, long lasting insecticidal nets will be distributed to mothers with focus on ante-natal care for pregnant women.
The MNCHW which began on July 5 ends on July 10. (NAN)