By Lilian U. Okoro

The First Lady of Lagos State, Dr Claudiana Sanwo-Olu, has flagged off the first round of the bi-annual Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health Plus Nutrition Week (MNCH+N) in Lagos State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the week-long free outreach services hold in Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across the 57 LGAs/LCDAs in the state between June 23 and 27.

Represented by the wife of the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs Oluremi Hamzat, Sanwo-Olu expressed gratitude to the people of Alimosho Local Government Area for hosting the State’s flag-off event.

She reiterated Lagos’ pioneering role in the MNCH+N Week which had become a national programme since its inception in the state in 2010.

Addressing a large audience of healthcare workers, traditional leaders, community stakeholders, and development partners, Sanwo-Olu highlighted the significance of the MNCH+N week.

She described it as a critical intervention that empowers citizens with access to cost-effective, high-impact healthcare services that could transform health indices and save lives.

Sanwo-Olu decried the rising cases of quackery in maternal health services, urging citizens to avoid unregistered birth attendants, and instead utilise services from licensed healthcare professionals or those registered under the Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board.

“Our communities must rise to report illegal practices that put the lives of our women and children in danger.

“The weeklong programme will deliver a wide range of services including vitamin A supplementation, growth monitoring, free antenatal and postnatal care, family planning, counselling on home care, screening for malnutrition, as well as information/referral support for sexual and domestic violence cases.

“Therefore, I urge Lagosians to take advantage of the MNCH+N Week, to visit the designated centres to benefit from the life-saving services,” she said.

Earlier, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Health, Dr Kemi Ogunyemi, described the flag-off as symbolic and strategic, especially being hosted in Alimosho, the largest LGA in Lagos State.

Ogunyemi said that the MNCH+N Week had historically improved health-seeking behaviour among residents while enhancing the state’s maternal and child health indices.

She, however, stressed that current mortality rates still demand intensified action from all stakeholders, advising families to also register for ‘Ilera Eko’ – the state’s social health insurance scheme – to ensure continued access to quality care beyond the intervention week.

The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr Olusegun Ogboye called on parents and caregivers across the state to take full advantage of the ongoing MNCH+N Week to access free, life-saving health services for their children and families.

Ogboye announced that the weeklong statewide outreach would be conducted daily from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at all public primary health centres and designated sites.

He emphasised that the programme targets under-five children, pregnant women, and adolescents with a wide range of essential health and nutrition interventions.

He urged parents whose children are yet to be immunised or who have missed out on Vitamin A supplementation to seize the opportunity provided during the week.

He also highlighted the availability of the HPV vaccine and child nutrition supplements as part of the intervention packages encouraging parents to not only bring their children but also mobilise others in their communities to benefit from the programme.

In her goodwill message, the Chief of Nutrition, UNICEF Nigeria, Nemat Hajeebhoy, applauded the State Government for sustaining the MNCH+N campaign, describing the week as a platform to deliver essential, preventive, and curative services to millions of women and children.

According to her, the impact of previous rounds has been commendable, with close to six million children receiving vitamin A supplements and three million dewormed during the two rounds of 2024, calling for continued momentum to surpass those figures in 2025.

Hajeebhoy also introduced the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF), a financing mechanism that allows states to double their investment in critical nutrition commodities.

She pledged UNICEF’s unwavering support to Lagos State and reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to ensuring that every Nigerian child has access to the nutrition and healthcare they deserve.

In his address, the Chairman of Alimosho Local Government, Mr Jelili Sulaimon, expressed delight that the council was chosen to host the flag-off ceremony.

Represented by his Vice-Chairman, Mr Akinpelu Johnson, Sulaimon described the initiative as timely and necessary, stressing that good health was foundational to productivity, economic stability and personal development. (NAN)

Edited by Yinusa Ishola/Vivian Ihechu