PRESS STATEMENT BY HER EXCELLENCY, AISHA UMMI GARBA EL-RUFA’I FOR THE 1ST PHASE OF THE MATERNAL,NEWBORN AND CHILD HEALTH WEEK IMPLEMENTATION IN KADUNA STATE.

PRESS STATEMENT BY HER EXCELLENCY, AISHA UMMI GARBA EL-RUFA’I FOR THE 1ST PHASE OF THE MATERNAL,NEWBORN AND CHILD HEALTH WEEK IMPLEMENTATION IN KADUNA STATE.
14TH JULY 2017.

Citizens of Kaduna State, I want to thank Almighty Allah for this opportunity, to inform you of a deliberate strategy to improve health and wellbeing of Kaduna residents; “the Integrated Maternal, Newborn and Child Health strategy” the fall out of which is the conduct of the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week.

Since adoption, the state has used the week to provide simple, one-time delivery of a package of interventions known to be highly cost-effective and result oriented, in an integrated manner.

The Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week is celebrated twice a year, and it targets women and children, providing them with life changing interventions, free of charge. The interventions, amongst others include:

– The administration of immunization, vitamin A supplementation, de-worming children, birth registration exercise and Antenatal Care.

– HIV Counseling and Testing. I have been made to understand that many more facilities will be offering this intervention than in previous rounds.

– Tetanus toxoid vaccine would be given to eligible women.

– Counseling on key household practices like exclusive breast-feeding, basic hygiene especially Hand washing demonstration.

– Deworming of children, growth monitoring and promotion, including birth registration.
For all the interventions mentioned, the state is desirous of achieving a coverage rate of 80% and more. This will not be easy, however I understand that a lot of planning has been done that would ensure successful implementation. It is important also for me, at this point, to emphasize the need for mother to take good care of their children by giving them adequate nutritious diet and also visit the nearest health Facility if any sign of malnutrition is noticed in children for proper examination and necessary action by health workers.

Let me reiterate that the Government of Kaduna State is committed to all Health programs and thus has provided necessary support for the smooth implementation of the program.

It is against this premise that Kaduna state would be implementing the 1st phase of the 2017 MNCH Week, in 963 of its facilities, from 17th to 22nd July 2017, if Almighty Allah permits.

I want to specially appeal to our Community Leaders, Religious leaders and Influential persons within the state to support the exercise by mobilizing women and children to avail themselves of the opportunities being afforded by the exercise.

Finally, I want to use this medium to encourage my fellow women to pass this message to neighbors, friends, aunties, sisters, nieces and daughters so that they can go to health facilities closest to them and benefit from the interventions that would be provided at these facilities within the Week.

I want to appreciate all Partners, Ministries and Agencies that have participated in the planning process.
I believe you would continue to support through to the implementation phase and even beyond.

May Almighty Allah bless us with a healthy Kaduna State.