The Kogi State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abdulazeez Adams Adeiza says the present administration has prioritized the development of Primary Health care systems in the state.
The Commissioner stated this at the flag-off ceremony of the second round of the 2025 Maternal Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) week held at Saint Lukes Primary School, Adankolo.
MNCH which stands for Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health, refers to the health care services and interventions aimed at improving the health and well-being of mothers, newborns, and children, particularly among low- and middle-income earners.
Key Components of MNCH, Maternal Health Care for women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period, Newborn Health Care for newborn babies, including immediate post-delivery care and ongoing health services, Child Health services for children, including immunizations, nutrition, and treatment for illnesses.
The goals of MNCH which are not limited to this include, Reducing Maternal Mortality by Decreasing the number of women dying from pregnancy-related complications, Reduce morbidity and mortality among newborns and children as well as promote Healthy Reproductive Outcomes by supporting healthy pregnancies, childbirth, and parenting.
Speaking at the flag-off, Dr. Abdulazeez Adams Adeiza noted that the state have been working tirelessly to improve the health outcome of the citizens of the people of the state stressing that the upgrade of of 88 additional PHCs will significantly enhance the capacity of the state to provide accessible and equitable healthcare services to the communities.
He expressed his profound gratitude to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for his unwavering commitment to improving the health status of the state as well as the development partners, traditional rulers, religious leaders and other stakeholders who have been instrumental in health delivery in all communities.
In a welcome address, the Executive Director, Kogi State Primary Health care Development Agency, Dr. Muazu Omeiza Musa, said the Maternal Newborn and Child Health week is a biannual high impact, cost effective and basic health package adopted by the 53rd session of the National Council on health in 2010 with the objective to reduce morbidity and mortality in mothers and children under five years old in Nigeria.
Dr. Muazu Omeiza Musa emphasized that the National Demographic and health survey (NDHS) 2023/2024 has a prevalence of 29.9% among children under years old stressing that unfortunately, Kogi State has a higher prevalence of 34.6 % noting that this is alarming and demands immediate attention.
He noted that the Agency will be putting more focus on all nutrition activities in Primary Health care Facilities to ensure they are carried diligently while community health outreach programmes will be strengthened to promote proper nutrition practices among caregivers.
The Executive Director commended efforts of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for his vision to improve primary health in the state and thanked the wife of the Governor, Hajia Sefinat Ododo for her support, the state House of Assembly, the commissioner of Health , Dr. Abdulazeez Adams Adeiza, Royal fathers and religious leaders, development partners, UNICEF, WHO,ANRiN and others for their financial and technical support, to the programme.
There were goodwill messages from UNICEF, WHO, Royal Fathers and religious leaders.
Joseph Adama
Information Officer
KSPHCDA
