- Celebrates Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week
BY WILLIAM ATTAH, GOMBE – The Gombe State Government has flagged off Integrated Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week in line with the administration’s policy of providing quality health care to the people of the state.
Also featuring was the commencement of Mass Vaccination Campaigns (MVCs) against Measles, Meningitis, Yellow Fever, and Covid-19 holding across the State from Friday, June 17 to July 8, 2022.
The State Deputy Governor, Dr Manassah Daniel Jatau, who performed the ceremony at the Gombe Emir’s Palace on behalf of the State Governor, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, said the campaign aims at improving the health status of the State’s entire populace.
He also explained that the government’s plan is to ensure the morbidity and mortality rates of mothers, newborns and under five years are reduced to the barest minimum.
“You are all aware that our government has ensured efficient and effective Primary Health Care Services delivery in the state since its inception on the 29th of May, 2019. As of today, the State has successfully handled cases of Lassa Fever, while it is prepared to handle emergency health issues such as Ebola, monkeypox, and others”, the Deputy Governor said.
According to him; “For us to achieve the laudable objectives, the great support from the Primary Health Care Development Agency (PHCDA), its partners and relevant stakeholders must be acknowledged and accepted”.
He solicited the support of Traditional and Religious Leaders, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Women groups, the Media, and members of the general public towards ensuring the exercise succeeds.
Earlier, the State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Habu Dahiru said the mass campaign for vaccination targets women, mothers, and children under five across the state, even as he commended the zeal put by the present administration in driving developments and growth in the health sector.
He said the leadership of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has not only contained Lassa Fever in the state but also vaccinated many people against COVID-19, including the Governor and his Deputy.
In his remarks, Executive Secretary, PHCDA Gombe State, Dr. Shuaibu Abdulrahaman, said the exercise shall be carried out in all the 114 wards in the state, covering all the eligible population including mothers, children, and adults depending on the vaccination beginning from Friday 17th June to 8th July, 2022.
Dr. Shuaibu said Gombe, Ogun, and Lagos were the three states in Nigeria where the exercise shall be taking place, explaining that the Yellow Fever vaccination covers children from nine (9) months to adults of 44 years, measles for children of 9 months to 59 months, while Men-A is for children 10-11 years and routine immunization for children 0-23 months.
Vitamin-A is to be administered on children of 6-59 months, Covid-19 for adults 18 years and above, Fesolate /Folic for pregnant Mothers, Anti- Malaria drugs for children and pregnant women and Deworming tablets for children.
The Senior District Head of Gombe, Alhaji Abdulkadir Abubakar, appreciated the government for having the people of the state at heart and providing vaccination towards improving their health status.
In his goodwill message, Mr. Yahaya Ahmed of National Primary Health Care Development Agency, appreciated the efforts of the state government towards advancing the health of citizenry.
Representatives of Development Partners, Mr. Patrick of the World Health Organization (WHO) commended the State Government for embarking on the mass vaccination program and assured of their continued support towards enhancing the livelihood of the people across Gombe state.
