Declaring the five-day Health Week open, the state Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Usman Rifun, explained that the objective of the exercise was to increase immunisation coverage for babies zero to five years of age.
Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed
Rifun said that the measure would ensure evidence-based and high impact interventions and thereby contribute to the reduction of morbidity and mortality rates among mothers, new born and children less than five years.
He said that the week would feature activities such as the administration of Vitamin A, de-worming, nutritional screening and key household practices. Others include hand washing, immunisation, HIV screening and testing and birth registration.
The commissioner urged all pregnant women, nursing mothers and caregivers to visit health facilities nearest to them to access these health interventions.
In her address of welcome, Hajia Funmilayo Salau, the Chairman, Ilorin South Local Government Area, said that the state government had been implementing all major components of primary healthcare.
She added that this approach had ensured that all health centres remained functional and accessible to the people. In her remark, Dr Abimbola Folorunsho,the Executive Secretary, the Primary Healthcare Development Agency, said that all necessary medication and immunisation for children zero to five years and pregnant mothers were free.
Folorunsho further advised mothers and caregivers on the necessary precautions to protect children from diseases.
