In commemoration of this year’s campaign on Maternal New-born and Child Health Week, the Edo State Primary Health Care Development Agency (EDSPHCDA) has trained supervising officers across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA’s) for exclusive monitoring of vaccination exercise across Local Government Areas of the state to reduce child mortality, morbidity and poor health outcome among women of childbearing age In Edo State.

The training which was held at the EDSPHCDA Board room on Wednesday 30th of November 2022, had in attendance stake holders from various MDA’s Within the state.

Speaking at the training, the Director of Community and Family Health Services (EDSPHCDA), Dr. Idemudia Osayomore, representing the Executive Secretary (EDSPHCDA) Dr.Omosigho Izedonmwen admonished participants to adhere to the instructions given and to ensure strict and efficient supervision during the exercise.

Also speaking at the training, the State Nutrition Officer who was the key facilitator, Mrs. Phil Imade Amenze noted that the high child and maternal mortality rates coupled with weak health systems led to the adoption of the Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW) In March 2010 at the 53rd National Council on Health in Nigeria.

She said that the MNCHW is a weeklong event organized to improve the coverage of integrated high impact, low cost, yet result-oriented promotive, preventive and curative health services, adding that the activity is intended to deliver services that would reduce child mortality, morbidity and poor health outcome among women of child-bearing age.

She further added that the targeted age group for the exercise are children within 6 to 59 months and emphasized that, this year’s exercise would focus on Vitamin A, Deworming and Mid-upper Arm Circumstance Measurements (MUAC) and assessment to determine malnutrition in the 18 LGAs f the State.

Mr. Kelly Omorogbe who was also one of the facilitators took the participants through a practical section on Data collation process and entering into the Ward Level Summary Sheet, Deworming Tablets Tally Sheet and the Mid-upper Arm Circumference Tally Sheet.

While the State Monitoring and Evaluation Officer (EDSPHCDA) Mrs. Ajayi-David also took the participants through a practical session on proper registration exercise.

The peak of the training was the question and answer session where participants were given the opportunity to ask questions on gray areas for proper understanding.

Speaking to journalists, Mr. Olamide Jacob a participant at the training, said that the training was an eye opener for him, as the training has exposed him to knowing the proper way of administering the blue and red vitamin-A to children without being forced.

He added that the target population for the exercise are children within the age frame of 6 – 59 months.

Another participant who also spoke to journalists, Mrs. Ighodaro Cynthia said that the training was a beautiful step to reach out to children in this year’s MNCH Week. Stressing that, the training was geared toward reducing the death rate of children within the ages of 5years.

By Agbonlahor Felicia
Media Officer EDSPHCDA