The Enugu State Government has extended the ongoing 1st Round of 2017 Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week by five days to achieve the target of de-worming 400,000 children in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the facility-based health exercise, which was kicked-off on Aug. 14, was initially meant to end on Aug.19.
The state Director of Public Health Services, Dr Okechukwu Ossai, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Friday that the exercise would now end on Tuesday, Aug. 22.
Ossai said that the exercise was for children less than five years, adding that besides enabling the government to meet the target, it would enhance the health of the children and boost growth and well-being.
He, however, noted that the deworming had been a huge success due to the high rate of response from the targeted residents it was designed for.
“We have daily evaluated the exercise through information from various health facilities and we have recorded huge success so far.
“However, we are getting report of high turn-out from various health facilities and we have decided to extend the week to Aug. 22 to ensure that our target is met, 100 per cent,’’ he said.
Ossai said that the Ministry of Health would be reaching out to more religious bodies and community leaders, to sensitise residents on the extension of the week.
He said that the on-going jingles on the exercise and its benefits in local radio and television stations in the state would also be sustained.
“The extension will help us mop up any uncovered area and further strengthen the Free and Compulsory Maternal and Child Healthcare of Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
NAN reports that vitamin A is being administered on the children while newborns and infants of less than a year are also benefiting from immunisation.
Nursing mothers are also receiving family planning talks, free HIV/AIDS screening, free insecticide-treated nets, nutritional guidance, hygiene and environmental orientation as part of the components of the exercise.
The exercise is taking place simultaneously in all Primary Health Care (PHC) centres in the political wards; general hospitals in the council areas and tertiary health institutions in the state.