Kogi State on Tuesday kick-started the second round of the 2025 Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) Week with a renewed push to cut preventable deaths among mothers and children under five.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony in Lokoja, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adeiza Abdulazeez, said the initiative reflects the state government’s determination to deliver accessible and quality healthcare to families across Kogi.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Steve Momoh, the commissioner disclosed that the state has so far revitalised more than 80 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) and upgraded an additional 88 facilities to strengthen service delivery.
He said Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has continued to prioritise maternal and child health, while commending development partners, traditional rulers, and other stakeholders for supporting the sector.
> “This initiative underscores government’s commitment to building a healthier and more prosperous state, with equitable healthcare services for all citizens,” Abdulazeez stated.
The Executive Director of the Kogi State Primary Health Care Development Agency (KSPHCDA), Dr. Musa Mu’azu, raised concern over the 34% stunting rate among children under five in the state, as revealed by the 2023/24 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS).
He said the agency is scaling up nutrition interventions across PHCs and communities to tackle the crisis.
According to Mu’azu, this year’s MNCH Week will provide free services such as routine immunisation, vitamin A supplementation, deworming, health education, and other child-survival packages targeting children aged 0–59 months and nursing mothers.
He noted that healthcare workers across the state have been mobilised and trained to ensure seamless and equitable service delivery.
Development partners, traditional and religious leaders, and other stakeholders present at the ceremony praised the state government’s commitment and pledged support for the successful implementation of the programme.
The highlight of the event was the official flag-off, which featured the administration of Vitamin A supplements to children and distribution of free drugs and diapers to nursing mothers by Momoh on behalf of the commissioner.
