In a bid to highlight the importance of maternal, newborn, and child health, the Niger State Ministry of Primary Health Care, alongside the Yomola Goodwill Foundation (NGO), organized a road walk to mark the 2024 Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (MNBCH) Week.
The walk, which commenced at Barikin Sale junction and traversed through Kpakungun Community, ended at the Kpakungun Primary Health Care Center in Minna.
It was aimed at raising awareness about key health initiatives available to mothers, newborns, and children under five.
Along the route, participants visited motor parks and mechanic shops, distributed flyers, and engaged in community sensitization efforts.
Gabriel Adewale Olarewaju, representing the Yomola Goodwill Foundation in Niger State, explained that the walk served as a platform for educating parents, caregivers, and community leaders about vital health services.
These services include the distribution of Vitamin A, intensive care, and regular check-ups to combat child malnutrition.
He further emphasized that the week’s activities focus on offering essential interventions for the health of mothers, newborns, and children aged 0-59 months.
Olarewaju praised the partnership with the Ministry of Primary Health Care, calling it instrumental in ensuring the availability of necessary food supplies and resources to enhance maternal health and child immunity through breastfeeding.
He also commended the ministry for its openness to collaboration in improving Niger’s health sector.
The Deputy Director of the Niger State Directorate of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Bala Musa encouraged parents and caregivers to take full advantage of the week’s offerings, which include antenatal care, immunization, health talks, nutrition screening, HIV testing, counselling, and birth registration.
He urged husbands to support their wives in accessing these free medical services and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that all services during the week are free of charge.
The road walk served as an important step in the continued effort to raise awareness and provide vital health interventions, ensuring better health outcomes for mothers and children in Niger State.
