...as Cross River Flags Off Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week in Calabar
The wife of the Cross River State Governor and State Nutrition Champion, Bishop Eyoawan Bassey Otu, has flagged off the first round of the 2026 Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Week (MNCHW).
The event, which drew various health sector stakeholders from within and outside the state, was held on Wednesday at the Event 45 Centre, Douglas Avenue, State Housing, Calabar.
Speaking at the flag-off, Bishop Otu commended Governor Bassey Edet Otu for consistently prioritising the health sector and supporting initiatives aimed at improving healthcare delivery across the State.
She noted that the programme reflects the administration’s commitment to ensuring women, children, and adolescents access essential healthcare. She further urged caregivers to leverage the administration's "People First" mantra to improve the well-being of their children.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Ayuk, stated that the initiative is designed to safeguard mothers and children, emphasising that good health remains the foundation of a productive society.
Dr. Ayuk also lauded the Director-General of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Vivien Mesembe Otu, for her resilience in ensuring grassroots populations receive adequate healthcare.
Earlier in her welcome address, Dr. Vivien Otu reaffirmed the agency's commitment to improving maternal and child health outcomes. She disclosed that the exercise targets children aged 0–59 months, pregnant women, and nine-year-old adolescent girls, with services provided free of charge at health facilities and designated outreach posts.
According to the Director-General, the campaign will provide life-saving interventions for children, including, Vitamin A supplementation to boost immunity and support growth, Deworming tablets to prevent parasitic infections and Routine immunisation against vaccine-preventable diseases.
Other services will be Malnutrition screening, birth registration, and family planning as well as HIV testing, counselling, and TB screening for children under five.
Dr. Otu added that pregnant women would receive multiple micronutrient supplements, iron, folic acid to prevent anaemia, and intermittent preventive treatment (SP) for malaria. She expressed gratitude to Governor Otu for funding the procurement of commodities and ensuring the programme's success.
"The Governor's commitment has continued to strengthen primary healthcare services and enable the implementation of impactful programmes," Dr. Otu said.
In their separate remarks, partners and key health officials rallied community support for the week-long exercise:
Dr. Olatunde Rebecca, World Health Organization (WHO) representative, applauded the state government and its partners for their unwavering support, encouraging mothers and caregivers to utilize the free services.
Dr. Winifred Ogar, Director of Nutrition, CRSPHCDA, emphasised that timely immunisation and nutritional support are essential to reducing maternal and child mortality, urging the target population to participate fully.
State Immunisation Officer, Mrs. Uyomi Enya, assured residents that health workers would be deployed to churches, schools, mosques, markets, health facilities, and strategic locations. She urged community leaders and caregivers to cooperate with the health teams.
By Offiong Itang
