*Obaseki flags-off maternal health week, offers free services to mothers, pregnant women*

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has urged mothers and pregnant women to take advantage of the Maternal New-born and Child Health Week (MNCHW) being observed in the state to access free maternal health services.

The governor, who was represented by his wife, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, made the call while flagging - off the 2018 MNCHW programme in Benin City, noting that Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) and other designated health facilities across the state will render free health intervention services during the one-week programme.

He said, “My administration has continued to support programmes aimed at enhancing the well-being of women and children because of my belief that women and children are the true wealth of any nation.”

Obaseki said his administration would continue to promote policies and programme aimed at reducing maternal, new-born and child mortality in the state.

Earlier, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Izilien Asogun, said MNCHW was aimed at delivering an integrated high-impact package of preventive, promotive and curative health services to mothers and children.

He listed services to be rendered during the week to include immunisation, deworming of infants, nutrition screening, birth registration, administration of Vitamin A supplement to children from six to 59 months and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and malaria testing.

The Edo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. David Osifo, said the MNCHW is a bi-annual event designed to complement the routine services being rendered to mothers and children in PHCs in the state.

According to him, “This exercise is of immense importance as we continue the fight to reduce sickness and death in mothers and children under five years.”

Osifo noted that the one-week programme holding from November 19th – 23rd would also include health education on exclusive breastfeeding, environmental sanitation and handwashing.

The State Coordinator, World Health Organisation, (WHO), Ms. Faith Ireye, who spoke on behalf of development partners involved in the programme, commended the state government’s efforts in improving PHCs’ services in the state.

She said Edo has been Polio-free since 2009 and has achieved reduction in mother and child diseases via improved immunisation activities.

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Representative of Edo State Governor and Wife of the Governor, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki administering vaccine to an infant, during the flag-off of the 2018 Maternal New-born and Child Health Week (MNCHW) in Benin City, Edo State.