By Khalid Idris Doya
The Bauchi state government has launched the second round of the 2025 Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW) with a major boost from UNICEF, which has donated over 1.5 million doses of Vitamin A and 47,000 bottles of Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation (MMS) for pregnant women, along with other essential materials.
Speaking during the flagoff ceremony yesterday held at Bayan Fada PHC in Bauchi, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, Chief of UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, said that the initiative will deliver life-saving health and nutrition services to children aged 6-59 months and to pregnant women across the state.
Represented by Dr. Jackson Martins, Nutrition Officer, she commended the Bauchi State Government for sustaining the bi-annual MNCH Week.
"For this round, UNICEF has provided Bauchi State with over 1.5 million doses of Vitamin A and over 47,000 bottles of MMS, alongside other relevant resources
to strengthen the implementation of MNCHW," she announced.
She explained that Vitamin A is critical for child growth and immunity, warning that deficiency can cause preventable childhood blindness and increase deaths from illnesses such as diarrhoea.
According to her, periodic high-dose Vitamin A supplementation remains a low-cost, high-impact intervention that can reduce child mortality by 12-24 percent.
Dr. Rafique also emphasised the importance of MMS for expectant mothers, as many suffer from multiple micronutrient deficiencies that contribute to anaemia, fatigue, increased infection risk, low birthweight, and poor fetal growth.
Also speaking, the Executive Chairman of the Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed, said the MNCH Week provided an integrated package of cost-effective services aimed at improving maternal, newborn, and child health indicators in the state.
Rilwanu, who was represented by Dr. Sufyan A. Jibrin, he noted that the programme is designed to accelerate progress and strengthen routine primary healthcare.
Rilwanu highlighted the alarming nutrition statistics from the 2023 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), which puts stunting in Bauchi at 61.7%, wasting at 5.2%, and underweight at 33.4%. He described the situation as requiring urgent preventive and curative action.
During the week-long campaign, children aged 6-59 months will receive Vitamin A supplementation, malnutrition screening, and referrals for treatment, while those aged 12-59 months will receive deworming tablets. Pregnant women will access MMS/IFAS, tetanus toxoid, intermittent preventive treatment for malaria (SP), and health education on key household practices.
He commended the state government for releasing N300 million as matching funds for child nutrition, and appreciated development partners for their ongoing support.
Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed reaffirmed the government's commitment to protecting the health of women and children, urging communities to utilise the services provided.
In goodwill messages, Asabe Emmanuel of Nutrition International encouraged mothers and pregnant women to take full advantage of the services, while Dr. Yerima Kucici, WHO Public Health Specialist, urged caregivers and fathers to ensure children benefit from the preventive interventions offered during the MNCH Week.
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