By: Gloria Amodu

The Kogi State Ministry of Health in Collaboration with Kogi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency have flagged off first round of the Optimised Maternal Newborn and Child Health (OMNCH) Week 2023 in the State.

The Campaign with a goal “to contribute towards the reduction of Material newborn and child mortality and improve health” was flagged off in Lokoja, the State Capital.

The Executive Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, in a message to the Flag off ceremony, reiterated his commitment to effective health care services in the State.

Governor Bello who was represented by the Kogi State Head of Service, Mrs. Hannah Odiyo, stated that his administration has invested so much in the health sector, aimed at bring health care services closer and affordable to the people especially Women and Children and promised to reduce maternal newborn and child mortality rate and improve health care delivery in the state.

He noted that renovation of Primary Healthcare Centers across the State, construction of six gigantic hospitals in the secondary health sector like the Reference Hospital in Okene, would improve quality health care delivery in the State.

According to him, the Three Hundred Bed Space Reference Hospital, with the state of arts equipment, MRI Machines, CT Scans are masterpiece that would provide specialist care to the people of the State and Nigeria at large, saying that it would reduce medical tourism of Nigerians to other Countries of the World.

The Governor’s representative flagged off the campaign by administering the vitamin A supplements to the children between 6 – 59 months and also pluses to the mothers.

In his address, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Zakari Usman, described the State Governor as a health friendly Leader who has brought smiles to the faces of the people through his health care programs.

According to him, the Health Sector is experiencing total turn around under the GYB’s Administration, pointing out that the Governor has left no stone unturned in health care service delivery.

Dr. Zakari pointed out that the achievements of the Governor in the health sector, are testimonials of his commitment for the wellbeing of the people, praying that God would continue to lead him in his service to the State.

Also speaking, the Executive Director Kogi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Abubakar Yakubu, said the campaign would safeguard the future of the children, stressing that OMNCH week campaign was to ensure that all eligible children under one year receive the RI antigens as per RI schedule.

He emphasized that such will ensure all pregnant women receive the TD vaccine as schedule, to administer vitamin A supplement to children between the ages of 6 – 59 months and other health care services.

Dr. Yakubu said the optimized maternal, newborn and child health week is a Bi-annual event, advising mothers to take advantage of the week to take routine immunization, and other health care services.

He expressed gratitude to the State Governor, Yahaya Bello, for his support and commitment to efficient and accessible health care services and all the developmental partner for their contribution towards the OMNCH week.

In their goodwill messages, the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children Funds (UNICEF), Malaria Consortium, Kogi State, Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria, Kogi State (ANRiN) and other partners expressed gratitude to the Federal Ministry of Health and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency for initiating the programme, hoping that it would improve the lives of the people especially mothers and children.

Present at the event were the Kogi State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Fatima Kabir Buba, The Ohiegba of Mozum, HRH, King Khalid Ali Bukar II, The State Project Manager, Malaria Consortium Kogi State, Mr. Keneth Maduka, The Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria ( ANRIN) Kogi State Chapter Mr, Bolarinwa Oladele, State Technical Facilitator Lead Team of Independent Monitor UNICEF Mr. Odo Chukwuemeka, Religious Leaders, Pregnant Women and breastfeeding mothers with their babies.