Lagos State Govt To Strengthen Maternal & Child Services

According to Punch, Olufemi Onanuga, Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Primary Health Care, claims the state government  in conjunction with International Agencies have beefed up maternal and child services  in its health facilities.

Speaking at the inauguration of the 2016 Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week in Lagos, Olufemi stated that a wide-range of low-cost health services would be offered to families in all its primary health centres in an integrated manner.

According to him, tetanus toxoid will be given to women of childbearing age and caregivers while mothers will be counselled on major household practices such as exclusive breastfeeding, hand washing, oral rehydration therapy, as well as home management of fever and diarrhoea.

Onanuga also added that health workers would assess the nutritional status of children who visit the hospitals.

He said: ”Family planning services will be available to couples and other eligible groups. There will also be antenatal care services for pregnant women who attend the clinic and these women will be given blood building drugs, Long Lasting Insecticide Nets to prevent malaria in pregnancy as well as other relevant drugs.

”The parents of school-age children should also ensure they give their consent to the schools so that their children can benefit from the nutritional assessment that will be provided. Please note that all these beneficial services will be provided free of charge throughout the week.

”I therefore, seize this opportunity to plead with all our community leaders to take full responsibility of ensuring that all the targeted groups are reached and effectively mobilised to the PHCs.”

He added that 57 Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas in the state will inaugurate the programme to create the necessary awareness and mobilisation of the target population.

He then urged parents and caregivers to take advantage of the services offered during the MNCH week by visiting any of public hospital or health post nearest to their homes.

Photo credit: Nell Brandon