Governor of Osun, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has flagged off the 2023 Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) week in the State.
The initiative, in partnership with the Saving One Million Lives Programme for Results (SOML) and United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) is targeted at delivering a package of basic interventions that are highly effective in reducing child mortality and improving mother and child health.
Addressing nursing mothers and Health workers at the flag off of the programme which held at the Ayegbaju International Market, Osogbo, the State capital, Governor Adeleke said MNCH Week was aimed at improving child survival and development and improving maternal health of the people of the State.
READ ALSO: Osun Infrastructure/Economy: Governor Adeleke Woos Investors, Partners
Governor Adeleke who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Kayode Adegoke stated that his administration has begun to record a remarkable achievements in the health sector.
He noted that: “The restoration of healthy living among our people is one of the five point agenda plan of our administration and am proud to say that we have started working on this, and we will delivered on our promise and will continue to pursue this policy with all doggedness and commitment.
“Our government is prepared to put in place an enduring health system that will prevent the citizenry of this State from all avoidable deaths due to emergencies, disease conditions or nutrition deficiencies.”
Speaking further, Senator Adeleke said: “Health, as we know, is wealth. When we came on board, we have never hidden our intention to prioritize the health of our people. Our government embarked on the sinking of Boreholes for portable water supplies across all the 332 wards in the state within 100 days in office.
“We have also conducted a comprehensive medical outreach involving free surgical interventions that has brought healthcare services to the doorsteps of citizenry in the state towards ensuring increased accessibility to qualitative higher level of health care services in all parts of the State.”
Governor Adeleke stated further that “the ages of 6 to 59 months, screening children for malnutrition, family planning services, among others. During this week also, all our children that are qualified for immunization will be immunised.”
He urged all mothers to bring out their children to receive the life saving interventions at the designated health facilities and outreaches across the state.
“I want to express the appreciation of the Osun State Government to all the Development Partners supporting the State. I want to thank UNICEF for supporting us with Vitamin A Capsules which will be given to ur children during this week and local partners for their collaboration. The Health Workers in the State also deserve commendations, like all other workers, I commend you and assure you of our commitment to your welfare. I want to encourage you to redouble your effort and make this week a success”.
In his welcome address, the Executive Secretary of the State Primary Health Care Development Board, Dr. Samson Fabiyi described the programme as part of attestations to the priority given to total well being of the people especially children by the administration of Senator Ademola Adeleke who he said, has left no one in doubt at improving the health status of every resident of the State.
He disclosed that the exercise would be held in 778 designated health facilities and outreach sites in all the 332 wards in the State for effective coverage.
“We are committed to pursuing any programme that will bring development to our people as much as the availability of funds allows.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the representative of the World Health Organisation in Nigeria, Dr. Bello Ahmed, congratulated Osun State Government and other partners on the commemoration of the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health week (MNCHW) 2023.
DR. Bello mentioned that “the world Health Organisation (WHO) in Osun State has shown commitment to the Primary Health Care Revitalisation and will never at anytime back out because of its multifaceted importance.#
