Pregnant woman delivers during launch of Abia 2025 Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week | READ MORE
Pregnant woman delivers during launch of Abia 2025 Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week | READ MORE
The wife of the Abia state governor, Mrs. Priscilla Otti, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reduce to the barest minimum, maternal and infant mortality caused by preventable conditions in the state.
Speaking during the launch of the 2025 Round One Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) Week at Umuahia North Council Headquarters, the First Lady represented by the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr. Maureen Aghukwa, charged mothers to always visit the renovated and equipped primary healthcare centers within their communities, for any health issue and not patronize unqualified medical practitioners.
She also charged mothers to heed to medical advisers and exclusively breastfeed their babies.
Earlier on, a pregnant woman identified as Mrs. Success Solomon from Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area, was safely delivered of a bouncing baby boy who weighed 2.7kg. The mother and child were immediately taken to the nearby Primary Health Centre on Ojike Street, for medical care.
Reacting to the miraculous delivery during the launch, Mrs. Otti said;
“What a beautiful way to begin this life-saving journey. “The birth of this baby boy during the flag-off is not just symbolic; it is divine confirmation that our efforts are timely, needed, and effective. I rejoice with Mrs. Success Solomon and her family. May this child grow in strength, wisdom, and good health. Today, we are reminded why we must never relent in prioritizing maternal and child health.”
Speaking, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Uche, lauded the unwavering support of Governor Otti to the health sector, describing the MNCH Week as a “clarion call for collective action to ensure mothers and children live healthy, fulfilling lives.”
Dr. Kalu Ulu Kalu, Executive Secretary of the Abia State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, emphasized that the MNCH Week delivers a proven package of basic, life-saving interventions. These include vitamin A supplementation, immunization catch-up, tetanus-diphtheria vaccination for pregnant women, deworming, malnutrition screening for children under five, antenatal care, and breastfeeding education.
The implementation of the 2025 MNCH Week is a clear testament to our government’s commitment to the well-being of Abia’s most vulnerable populations,” Dr. Kalu affirmed.
In their goodwill messages, representatives of UNICEF, WHO, PanAfricare, and other development partners commended Abia State’s focused investment in maternal and child health. They expressed optimism that these collaborative efforts will significantly reduce preventable diseases and foster a healthier future for women and children across the state.
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