27th May, 2017
The Oyo State Government says it is targeting 1.5 million children who are under five years as beneficiaries of Vitamin A supplement during the forthcoming Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) Week.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Azeez Adeduntan, made the disclosure on Saturday in Ibadan while giving an update on the preparation for the MNCH week
The MNCH Week holds between May 29 and June 2.
Adeduntan said parents of children from six months to 59 months were expected to bring their wards to the health facilities and outreach centres provided by the government for the exercise.
He said that Vitamin A was essential for the targeted children in order to boost their immune system, improve their sight as well as prevent measles and other related skin diseases.
The commissioner said the week would be held in 1,404 health facilities across the state, adding that two health centres and two outreaches were selected in each of the 351 wards throughout the state.
“During the MNCH week, pregnant women, nursing mothers and children between 0-59 months will benefit from free nutrition and health interventions, including HIV screening and malnutrition screening.
“There will also be provision of family planning commodities, birth registration, deworming tablets for children of 12-59 months as well as provision of malaria drugs for pregnant women,’’ he said.