Organization lauds impressive turn out of women, children for health week

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Friday that the second round of Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW) had recorded massive turn out of women and children in Kaduna State.

Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Kaduna, Utpal Moitra, said in a statement in Kaduna on Friday that the exercise began on Nov. 28 across 998 Primary Health facilities in the state and would end on Dec. 2, 2016.

He said that the targeted age group are children under five and pregnant women, adding that the interventions include Vitamin A, deworming tablets, immunisation with routine antigens and nutritional screening.

Others are antenatal care, iron folate, tetanus toxoid, post-coital test to all pregnant women, including zinc ORS, demonstration on hand washing, health education on essential family practices and birth registration.

“HIV counselling and testing to pregnant women was also provided in all the fixed pots including 408 health centres that are non Prevention of Mother To Child Transmission (PMTCT) sites.

“UNICEF has supported the state with 100 per cent Vitamin A and 10 per cent of deworming tablets.

“We equally supported social mobilization including town announcements, micro planning and monitoring with at least four monitors per Local Government Area.

“Implementation is ongoing and with good turnout of clients accessing these interventions.

“This is the second round of MNCHW implemented in Kaduna state, the first round was in May 2016,” the UNICEF Chief said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in Soba, Kubau, Lere and Kauru Local Government Areas of the state women and children came out as early as 7 am to access the services at the various health centres.