Edo State ministry of Health on Wednesday, 21st August, said a total of 659, 644 children between the ages of six and 59 months were administered with Vitamin A supplements in 2018.
Felicia Omokaro, the State Health Educator who made the disclosure during one-day sensitization training with the media on Maternal Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) in Benin.
“The figure represented 81percent of the targeted 797,533 of eligible children in the state.”
Omokaro, who expressed the state government commitment towards sustaining awareness, reducing Maternal and Childhood morbidity and mortality in the state, urged mothers to always access healthcare facilities in the state for immunization.
She also disclosed that a total of 536,793 children of between 12 and 59 months representing 76 percent of the targeted children of 708,918 received Albendazole tablets while 207,939 children of between 6 and 59months were screened for malnutrition.
The state health educator said the Vitamin A supplements were administered to the children in 581 healthcare facilities and outreaches in the period under review.
She further explained that 2520 personnel were recruited and trained for Vitamin A Supplements and Deworming in the 18 local government areas (LGAS) in the State.
Felicia said the administration of the vitamin A Supplements and de-worming with albendazole was carried out in
health facility centres, outreach centres at schools, markets, churches, special events, camps among others located in the communities.
She noted that the supplement was meant to improve nutrition and health status in under-five contribute and strengthen health immunity in under-five against disease transmission in communities and contribute to maximum sero-conversion of Antigens in under-fives to boost health immunity in the state.
According to Felicia the 2019 Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week scheduled for August 28 and to last for September 1, 2019 was to focus on ante-natal care for pregnant women, growth monitoring and immunization for under five children.
“The preparation for the 2019 Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week scheduled for August 28 to September 1, 2019 exercise focuses on ante-natal care for pregnant women, growth monitoring and immunization for under five children.
“The exercise include Vitamin A supplementation and deworming, and family planning counseling for nursing mothers”, she said.
She however, enjoined mothers to adopt six months exclusive breastfeeding and ensure that pregnant women and children under five-year-old sleep inside long lasting insecticide treated nets every night.
She also, urged guardians and caregivers to utilize the advantage of the services offered during the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) week by visiting any of the public hospital or primary health post nearest to their houses.
