..as UNICEF lauds ODSG’s commitment to children and women’s wellbeing
The First Lady of Ondo State, Chief Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, has called on mothers and caregivers in the state to take advantage of the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week and take their children and wards to the nearest facilities for available interventions.
She made the call today during the flag off ceremony of the year 2022 Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW), held at the State Mother and Child hospital premises, Oke Aro, Akure, the state capital.
Flagging off the 2022 MNCHW, the wife of the Governor said: ” I wish to inform our mothers and caregivers to take their children and wards aged 0 to 59 months to the nearest health facilities and outreach points to obtain all available interventions during this campaign”.
She, however, lauded the efforts of the Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, towards ensuring child protection, survival and development in Ondo State and for providing enabling environment and needed resources for the implementation of 2021 MNCHW.
She also commended the efforts of stakeholders, including Wives of local government chairmen, Non-govermental organisations, market women for their commitment and mobilisation at the grassroot to embrace child survival, protection and development programmes.
Earlier in his welcome address, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Banji Awolowo Ajaka, had noted that the exercise was aimed at reaching all the children under the age of five years with Routine Immunisation (RI) vaccines, Vitamin A supplements, de-worming tablets, screening for Malnutrition, HIV Counseling and Testing, Birth Registration, and promotion of other child protection services.
He disclosed that Ondo State was rated best among the best performed states with 96% coverage in the August 2021 round of MNCHW.
The State Representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, Mrs. Ada Ezeogu, in her goodwill message commended Ondo State for achieving higher percentage of coverage of MNCHW, and appealed for the sustainability of the tempo.
She reiterated the commitment of UNICEF to collaborate with other partners in providing support for the state in all areas that affect women and children.
By Mary Agidi
Special Assistant to Ondo State Governor on Media
(Office of the First Lady)
Feb 18 2022
JATS Online News 