The World Health Organization (WHO) says it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with States ministry of health to undertake birth registration of children nationwide.
Kate Ogieugo, Edo State, WHO representative gave the hint during one -day sensitization meeting and media orientation for the forthcoming week-long Maternal, Newborn and Child Health week campaign in Benin-City.
Ogieugo said the partnership was to ensure that children of between the ages of zero and 59 months that are yet to register their birth are registered.
The WHO representative who lamented the high cost of birth registration said the partnership will ensure that children that are yet to register are register free of charge.
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She disclosed that ad-hoc personnel from the office of the Nigeria Population Commission would be deployed to all venue for the forthcoming MNCHW) programme.
She however, appealed to parents to avail themselves with the opportunity to ensure that their children date of birth is register legally.
“The WHO’s MoU with the ministry of health nationwide is an opportunity for mothers to register their children birth to avoid the exorbitant cost parents have to pay to get their children birth registered. The registration is free.
“The birth registration will ensure us to plan and focus for the future. With the birth registration data government will be able to plan ahead such as for education, health among others”, she said.
However, Ogieugo further said that the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health week campaign slated to commence next week Monday and end Friday was geared towards saving one million lives in the state.
“the exercise will be packaged full of capacity empowerment education programme such as exclusive breast feeding for first six months, prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV/Aid, prevention of malaria using long lasting insecticidal nets, vitamin A supplementation to children aged six months to five years.
“There will be family planning services, de-worming drugs to children, ante-natal service including malaria prevention and treatment, administration of tetanus diphtheria vaccine to pregnant women, nutrition screening among others,” she added.
Idris Umar Momoh, Benin
