By: Abdullahi Inuwa
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has intensified efforts to improve child and maternal health in Kebbi State, announcing plans to provide essential drugs and nutritional supplements to more than 1.1 million children as part of activities aimed at boosting immunity and reducing childhood illnesses.
The intervention, which falls under the ongoing Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW), is expected to benefit children and pregnant women across the state’s 21 local government areas through free health services and nutritional support.
Speaking through a statement issued by UNICEF’s Sokoto Field Office, Education Specialist Salahudeen disclosed that children between the ages of six and 59 months will receive Vitamin A supplements to strengthen their immune systems, support healthy growth and protect them against common childhood diseases.
He explained that the programme is designed to tackle malnutrition and improve the overall wellbeing of children, particularly those in vulnerable communities.
According to him, children aged 12 to 59 months will also be given deworming tablets to protect them from intestinal worm infections, a major contributor to malnutrition, poor growth and weakened immunity among young children.
Salahudeen further revealed that pregnant women will benefit from Iron-Folic Acid supplementation aimed at preventing anaemia, supporting healthy pregnancies and ensuring better health outcomes for both mothers and their babies.
“The exercise is part of efforts to improve maternal and child health indicators and ensure that every child has a healthy start in life,” he said.
UNICEF disclosed that the state is targeting a total of 1,136,399 children aged between six and 59 months for Vitamin A supplementation and deworming services during the exercise.
In addition, no fewer than 350,741 pregnant women are expected to receive Iron-Folic Acid supplements under the programme.
Health experts have described the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week as one of the most effective public health interventions for delivering lifesaving services to mothers and children, particularly in underserved communities.
They noted that the initiative provides a critical platform for administering high-impact and cost-effective interventions capable of significantly reducing maternal and child morbidity and mortality rates.
The programme is also expected to improve nutritional outcomes, prevent avoidable illnesses and strengthen community awareness on the importance of routine healthcare services.
Residents across Kebbi State have been urged to take advantage of the exercise by visiting the nearest health facility or designated outreach centres to access the free services.
UNICEF emphasized that community participation remains vital to the success of the programme, urging parents and caregivers not to miss the opportunity to protect their children from preventable diseases.
The Kebbi State Government reaffirmed its commitment to improving access to quality healthcare services for mothers and children, stressing that the wellbeing of women and children remains a top priority of the administration.
The government also called on traditional rulers, religious leaders, media organisations and development partners to support awareness campaigns and community mobilization efforts to ensure maximum participation during the health week.
With over one million children and hundreds of thousands of pregnant women expected to benefit, stakeholders say the initiative represents a major step toward improving health outcomes and securing a healthier future for families across Kebbi State.
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