FCTA Launches Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week Vaccination Exercise
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has announced the launch of the 2024 FCT Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week vaccination exercise, scheduled to take place from July 20 to July 24. The exercise aims to provide free vaccination services to children aged 0 to 59 months.
According to Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, Mandate Secretary, Health Services and Environment Secretariat, approximately one million Nigerian children under the age of five die annually due to various illnesses. This staggering statistic highlights the need for continued efforts to improve child health outcomes.
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The vaccination exercise is part of the FCTA’s efforts to reduce child mortality rates and improve nutritional status among children. The exercise will provide services such as Vitamin A Supplementation, deworming, routine immunization, growth monitoring, and nutrition screening.
Dr. Fasawe emphasized the importance of stakeholder support and cooperation from households across the FCT’s six area councils to ensure the success of the exercise. She also highlighted the need for journalists to promote the exercise and raise awareness about the importance of maternal, newborn, and child health care.
The FCTA has made considerable progress in reducing child mortality rates through the Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW) initiative. However, more needs to be done to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The exercise is a crucial step towards improving the health and well-being of children in the FCT and Nigeria as a whole.
