The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has revealed that approximately one million Nigerian children under the age of five die annually due to various illnesses. To combat this alarming rate, the FCTA has launched the 2024 FCT Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW) vaccination exercise, which will take place from July 20 to July 24. This free exercise aims to provide essential health services to children from 0 to 59 months.
According to Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, Mandate Secretary of Health Services and Environment Secretariat, the high mortality rate among children in this age group necessitates the annual vaccination exercise. Additionally, malnutrition prevalence, including stunting, underweight, and wasting, remains a significant concern in the FCT. The exercise will provide various services, including Vitamin A supplementation, deworming, routine immunization, growth monitoring, and nutrition screening.
The MNCHW aims to promote awareness and service delivery for maternal, newborn, and child healthcare. The FCTA has shifted its approach from standalone campaigns to a more integrated strategy, exposing caregivers and children to essential interventions. The exercise will also focus on antenatal care, malaria prevention, HIV counseling, and family planning services. The FCTA urges all stakeholders, including journalists, to support the promotion of MNCHW and encourages households to cooperate with medical officers conducting the exercise.
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