Lagos State Government Enhances Health Services for Women and Children at 329 Primary Health Centers, Mobilizes Women for Record-Breaking Breastfeeding Event.
Lagos, Nigeria – The Lagos State Government is set to mark the 2024 World Breastfeeding Week alongside the Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health Plus Nutrition (MNCAH+N) Week. These initiatives aim to promote exclusive breastfeeding and enhance health-seeking behaviors among mothers and children under five.
Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, discussed the state’s preparations at a press briefing. She emphasized that the MNCAH+N Week, organized by the Federal Ministry of Health and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, focuses on improving health outcomes for mothers and children, especially those under five.
“The MNCAH+N Week is designed to provide preventive, promotive, high-impact, and cost-effective maternal and child health interventions,” Dr. Ogunyemi stated.
Scheduled for August 1st to 7th, the 2024 MNCAH+N Week coincides with World Breastfeeding Week. This timing allows the state to implement both initiatives simultaneously.
“World Breastfeeding Week raises awareness about the importance of breastfeeding for the survival and optimal development of infants under two years. Breastfeeding provides the ideal and complete nutrition for infants,” Dr. Ogunyemi explained.
The theme for the 2024 World Breastfeeding Week is “Closing the Gap, Breastfeeding Support for All.” This theme underscores the need for comprehensive support for lactating mothers from all stakeholders, including family, community leaders, and employers.
The week-long activities will involve 329 primary health care centers, 752 mobile teams, and over 3,000 trained health workers. Mobile teams will visit crèches, schools, and playgrounds to administer deworming tablets and vitamin A to eligible children.
Dr. Ogunyemi encouraged parents and caregivers to bring their under-five children to the nearest primary healthcare centers for services such as vitamin A supplementation, deworming, malnutrition screening, HIV and tuberculosis screening, and counseling on maternal and child nutrition.
Highlighting the state’s achievements in maternal and child health, Dr. Ogunyemi mentioned free antenatal, postnatal care, and delivery services for pregnant women, intensified food demonstration classes for nursing mothers, and the establishment of the Sexual Assault Referral Centre at Alimosho General Hospital.
Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, reiterated the administration’s commitment to health and environmental mandates. He assured that the government would continue to implement measures to ensure a healthy population.
Dr. Ogboye announced that Lagos State would join a national breastfeeding campaign aiming to mobilize over 36,000 women to breastfeed simultaneously across the country at midday.
Dr. Folasade Oludara, Director of Family Health and Nutrition, thanked community and religious leaders for their support and encouraged the massive mobilization of women and children for these programs.
The Lagos State Government’s concurrent implementation of the MNCAH+N Week and World Breastfeeding Week highlights its dedication to improving maternal and child health through comprehensive and impactful interventions.
