The Kaduna State Government has officially launched the 2025 Maternal, Neonatal, and Child Health Week (MNCH) in Rigachikun, Igabi Local Government Area, reaffirming its commitment to tackling maternal and child mortality through strengthened health interventions.
The event, held at the Rigachikun Primary Health Care Centre, was flagged off by Deputy Governor Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, who represented Governor Uba Sani at the ceremony. Addressing a diverse gathering of stakeholders, Dr. Balarabe described the MNCH Week as a “life-saving intervention” targeting pregnant women, nursing mothers, newborns, and children under five.
“This is not just another health programme; it is a moral call to action,” she said. “We cannot continue to lose our mothers while giving life. We cannot bury children before they even start life. These deaths are not inevitable—they are preventable, and they are unacceptable.”
She cited alarming statistics from the 2023–2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, which revealed that Kaduna State’s under-five mortality rate stands at 153 deaths per 1,000 live births. Neonatal and maternal mortality rates also remain a source of concern.
In response, the state has intensified efforts under Governor Uba Sani’s leadership to improve access and quality of healthcare services. These include:
- Upgrading 255 Primary Health Centres (PHCs), with an additional 255 in progress, to deliver Basic Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (BEmONC).
- Establishing a Department of Family Health to coordinate maternal and child health initiatives.
- Expanding the Kaduna State Health Insurance Scheme, which enrolled over 70,000 new beneficiaries in 2024.
“These efforts are already gaining recognition nationally and internationally,” Dr. Balarabe noted, citing Kaduna’s top ranking in the North West region for the PHC Challenge and commendations from the Federal Ministry of Health and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
The flag-off was attended by key actors in the health sector, including officials from the Ministry of Health, the State Primary Health Care Board, local government authorities, traditional rulers, representatives from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and international donor organizations.
The 2025 MNCH Week will deliver essential services such as antenatal care, immunizations, vitamin A supplementation, and health education. Outreach efforts will extend to rural and underserved communities, ensuring that vulnerable populations across Kaduna State are reached.
The initiative underscores the state government’s renewed resolve to make maternal and child health a top priority.
