WHO, 2018 maternal, newborn and child health week holds Nov. 19-23
ABIODUN JIMOH, BENIN CITY
The second batch of the 2018 Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW) has been slated to commence from November 19th – 23rd, 2018 across all the eighteen local governments areas in Edo State.
The bi-annual programme bankrolled by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in collaboration with the Edo State Ministry of Health is targeted at immunizing children from 0-59 months, and women of child bearing age from 15-49 years.
Mrs. Kate Oguigo, WHO Representative, while speaking at the one day sensitization meeting and media orientation workshop held in Benin City, on Wednesday, talked on the overview of the social mobilization for the programme, which is to build community trust ahead of the campaign, being the recipients of the programme.
Others at the event are Mrs. Charity Usifo, State information officer (SIO); Mrs. Faith Ireye, State Coordinator, WHO; Chief Winnie Aigbojie, WHO LGAs Facilitator; Mrs. Sarah Ojo-Edokpayi, State Reproductive Health Coordinator, and among.
She noted that social mobilization was to provide a coordinated approach that makes everybody at same level. Also to communicate technically correct message to targeted population areas.
“The key influencers are opinion leaders, influential persons, respected persons in the community. Religious and traditional leaders as well s community and village leaders. The media, NGOs, CSOs, FBOs, and churches.
She however listed some of the challenges being faced in ensuring the targeted population received the message. Among such are lack of adequate information Eduction ad Communication (IEC); Non functional World Development Committee (WDC) in many wards; inadequate megaphone for grassroots mobilization.
Others are poor engagement of traditional and religious leaders, inadequate and release of social mobilization fund, and poor and inadequate training of town announcers which lead to delivery inaccurate messaging, and among others.
In the same vein, Mrs. Ehigie Efe Helen, Edo State Ministry of Health Educator confirmed that the campaign is targeted at vaccinations is to prevent maternal and child morbidity, adding that the programme would at all health centres and designated centres across all the wards in the eighteen councils in the state.
“The interventions include immunization of children 0-59 months, health education on exclusive breast feeding for the first six months, complementary feeding; prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS. Simple hand washing technique using soap and water. Personal hygiene; prevention of malaria using long lasting insecticidal nets.
“Birth registration; Vitamin A supplementation to children aged 6 months to 5 years; family planning services; deworming drugs to children; ante-natal service including malaria prevention and treatment, administration of tetanus diphtheria vaccine to pregnant women, and nutrition screening. Take child heal the card and immunization card.
“In a single visit, all health interventions will be provided for mother and child. It is a package of high impact, low cost preventive/ curative services. It is cist effective. Repeated OPV will boost the child’s immunity.
“All services rendered during the week long programme are free. Mothers, caregivers should take their children to the nearest health centres,” she concluded.
