LAGOS SET TO COMMENCE Y2024 WORLD BREASTFEEDING, MNCAH WEEK

… Offers Comprehensive Health Services for Women and Children at 329 PHCs
… Mobilises Women for Record-Breaking Breastfeeding Event

Lagos State Government is set to commemorate the 2024 World Breastfeeding and Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health Plus Nutrition (MNCAH+N) Week, implementing interventions geared towards promoting exclusive breastfeeding and improving health-seeking behaviours, particularly among mothers and children under five years old.

Speaking on the State Government’s preparations for the week-long activities, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi explained at a press briefing signalling the commencement of dual initiatives that the State implements the MNCAH+N Week to improve the health-seeking behaviour of the populace, focusing on the health of mothers and children, especially those under the age of five years.

“The MNCAH+N Week is a week set aside by the Federal Ministry of Health through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency in collaboration with the 36 States of the Federation to improve the provision of preventive, promotive, high-impact, but cost-effective maternal and child health interventions”, she said.

Dr. Ogunyemi announced that the 2024 MNCAH+N Week, scheduled to hold from August 1st to 7th, coincides with the World Breastfeeding Week, which is why the Lagos State Government will be implementing both concurrently.

“The World Breastfeeding Week is commemorated annually to create awareness of the importance of breastfeeding practices for the survival of babies under the age of two years. Breastfeeding is a natural way of providing the ideal and complete food for infants to ensure optimal growth and development for increased chances of survival”, she stated.

The Special Adviser noted that the theme for the Year 2024 World Breastfeeding Week, “Closing the Gap, Breastfeeding Support for All”, speaks to every support needed by a lactating mothers to encourage them to adequately breastfeed her baby. “This support must be given by every stakeholder, including the baby’s father, grandmothers, religious and community leaders, employers, colleagues and friends”, she said.

Dr. Ogunyemi emphasised that the week-long activities will be highly impactful, with all 329 primary health care centers, 752 mobile teams, and over 3,000 health workers trained and prepared on implementation strategies. She disclosed that mobile teams will visit creches, schools, and playgrounds to administer deworming tablets and vitamin A to eligible children.

She urged Lagosians, especially parents and caregivers, to take advantage of the dual initiatives by bringing their under-five children to the nearest Primary Healthcare Centres to access various health services. According to her, the services include vitamin A supplementation for children aged 6 to 59 months, deworming for children aged 12 to 59 months, malnutrition screening for children aged 6 to 59 months, HIV and tuberculosis screening, and counseling on maternal, infant, and young child nutrition (MIYCN).

Reaffirming the administration’s commitment to sustainable healthcare delivery, Dr. Ogunyemi noted the government’s efforts to tackle maternal and child mortality. “In Lagos State, a few of our notable achievements in maternal and child health include providing free ANC, PNC, and delivery for pregnant women, intensifying food demonstration classes for nursing mothers, and establishing the Sexual Assault Referral Centre known as Idera at Alimosho General Hospital,” she stated.

Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, reiterated the administration’s dedication to the health and environment mandates of the THEMES Plus agenda. He assured that the government will continue to implement measures to ensure a healthy population.

Highlighting the importance of proper and adequate breastfeeding, Dr. Ogboye announced that Lagos State will join other states and the FCT in commemorating the 2024 World Breastfeeding Week. He added that the State is part of a groundbreaking breastfeeding campaign intended to mobilise over 36,000 women to breastfeed their children simultaneously at midday across the country.

Director of Family Health and Nutrition, Dr. Folasade Oludara appreciated community and religious leaders for their continued support of the government’s initiatives. She encouraged massive mobilisation of women and children under five for these programmes.

The Lagos State Government’s concurrent implementation of the MNCAH+N Week and World Breastfeeding Week underscores its commitment to improving maternal and child health outcomes through comprehensive and impactful health interventions.