Anambra State sustains partnership with WHO, as Govt inaugurates Maternal Newborn week

Thu, Feb 13, 2020
By publisher
3 MIN READ

Health

THE Anambra State Government has reiterated its resolve to sustain partnership with the World Health Organisation, WHO, and other donor agencies on the health management sector.

Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra said this while inaugurating the 2020 National Immunisation Plus Days, NIPDs, at the Primary Health Centre, Akpo, Aguata Local Government Area, LGA.

The governor also inaugurated the Second Round 2019 maternal Newborn and Child Health Week, MNCHW.

The programme, which started on Feb.10, would be observed in all the Primary Health Centres across the state, lasting for about six days.

Performing the inauguration ceremony, Gov Obiano said his administration had maintained a high premium in providing necessary facilities that would promote good health.

He noted that 260 hospitals had been renovated since his administration, emphasising that Primary Health Centres had assisted in administering the first level treatment required.

“What we are doing is to promote health and wealthy living. We have procured water ambulances for riverine areas to ensure the promotion of life. This is to facilitate proper immunisation in remote areas.

“This programme is an opportunity for parents to immunise their children between the ages of 0 to 5 years.

“Since 2014, no single case of polio challenge has been recorded in Anambra State due to our commitment on the health sector and we will continue to administer the oral polio vaccination,’’ Obiano added.

The governor also cautioned against the non-hygienic environment, advocating for proper hand washing, to prevent endemic challenges of Lassa fever and related health challenges.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Vincent Okpala, stressed that Anambra had maintained a low maternal mortality rate since the inception of the current administration.

The Executive Secretary, Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Chioma Ezenyimulu, said the aim was to contribute toward improving the health status of Nigerian women and children.

This would be achieved by increasing coverage of key maternal, newborn and Child Health interventions by 50 per cent of the current indices in 2020.

“We are happy to note that Anambra State has always participated fully in this National programme that holds twice a year.

“Under the Obiano administration, Anambra qualified as one of the states in the federation to participate in the first phase of the roll-out of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).’’

According to Ezenyimulu, the Interventions given during the week include Nutrition Screening (Mid Upper Arm Circumference, MUAC), vitamin A supplementation, birth registration, family planning and hepatitis B Vaccination.

Dr. Chukwumuanya Igbokwu, representing the World Health Organization, WHO, commended Gov. Obiano for his interventions in the health sector, geared toward improving the health conditions of women and children.

According to him, Gov. Obiano has invested a lot in the health sector, especially, being the first to launch health insurance scheme.

“Anambra has been leading in primary healthcare delivery under Gov. Obiano and remains number one in polio eradication,’’ Igbokwu said.

Gov. Obiano later administered oral vaccination to children, which formed part of the event.

– Feb. 13, 2020 @ 11:15 GMT |

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