From Olu Samuel, Lokoja
Kogi State Government has flagged off the Integrated 1st Round Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week, Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) Campaign, with services across the state.
The flag-off ceremony held on Thursday in Lokoja had traditional rulers, religious leaders, development partners, health workers, and community members in attendance.
The state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr Abdulazeez Adams Adeiza, described the campaign as “an integrated campaign for life” to tackle maternal deaths, child illnesses, cervical cancer and NTDs.
He said state data shows where children miss vaccines, mothers skip antenatal care, HPV affects girls, and NTDs keep children out of school.
“But data without action is just numbers. That is why Kogi, through KSPHCDA and the State Ministry of Health with support from WHO, UNICEF, Sight Saver and partners, is integrating these interventions into one round. One team. One visit. Multiple protections,” he stated.
According to him, services include Vitamin A, deworming, growth monitoring, antenatal care, iron-folate for pregnant women, nutrition counselling, HPV vaccination for girls aged 9 years to prevent cervical cancer, and mass drug administration for schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths.
Abdulazeez said the campaign promotes health equity by taking services to hard-to-reach areas, riverine communities, markets and schools.
He urged mothers and caregivers to bring children under 5, and pregnant women to health facilities. Noting that Vitamin A prevents blindness and deworming improves learning. To parents of nine-year-old girls, he stressed that HPV vaccine is safe and prevents cancer.
Flagging off on behalf of Gov Ahmed Ododo, the commissioner said “the administration is guided by Truth, Service and Urgency to ensure no one is missed.”
The commissioner assured that security and logistics support have been put in place to reach all communities, including riverine areas.
The Executive Director, Kogi State Primary Health Care Development Agency (KSPHCDA), Dr Musa Omeiza Muazu, said “integrated” is key because communities face health problems together, saying, “one health team will deliver multiple interventions per visit for efficiency and equity”.
He thanked the government, WHO, UNICEF, Sight Saver and partners, and urged traditional rulers, market women and youth groups to mobilize communities.
“Let no child be missed,” he charged.
UNICEF State Facilitator, Mr Olumide Adeyeye, on behalf of partners, said the exercise combines three components for mothers’ and children’s well-being.
Olumide urged stakeholders to unite for success and called on health workers to be professional.
Earlier, the State Nutrition Officer, Mr Abdulazeez Usman, said nutrition teams will weigh children under 5, give Vitamin A, counsel mothers on affordable Kogi foods like beans, eggs, ugu and moringa, and provide iron-folate to pregnant women.
He said HPV vaccination prevents cancer and deworming removes worms that steal nutrients.
A nursing mother beneficiary, Mrs Sadiya Abubakar, said she was excited for the program and thanked the governor for bringing it to benefit nursing mothers and children free of charge.
