Multi-Sectoral Approach Essential for Maternal Newborn Healthcare – UNICEF
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has stressed the need to adopt a comprehensive and multi-sectoral approach to maternal newborn health care which ensures that no child misses immunisation and nutritious foods as it protects them against life-threatening diseases.
Giving the advice was Dr Ijeoma Agbo, Lagos field officer, UNICEF, who noted that if a child is fully immunised, he is protected against life-threatening diseases like diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenza type B.
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Agbo who spoke during the Media Advocacy Meeting by the National Orientation Agency (NOA), in collaboration with UNICEF, said that the agency supports the government and partners to address issues that hinder maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) during the critical 1000 days of life.
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She disclosed that Lagos state had the highest coverage of children fully immunised at one year of age, which is higher than South West coverage of 48 per cent, according to the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) 2021.
Agbo, however, lamented that only 66 percent of children aged one, were fully immunised while calling on the Lagos state government to ensure that no child is left behind because immunisation protects children against killer diseases.
The field officer said, “By adopting a comprehensive and multi-sectoral approach, UNICEF helps government and partners to address all the aspects that hinder mothers and babies from receiving adequate care and nutrition during the critical 1000 day of life.”
