FCTA To Vaccinate Over One Million Children
By: Prudence Okonna
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has said its target is to reach over one million children during the forthcoming National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs) in the Federal Capital Territory.
The National Immunization Plus Days, which is scheduled for 18th to 24th November, 2023 is expected to cover all the nooks and crannies of the Territory.
Acting Executive Secretary, FCT Primary Health Care Board (PHCB), Dr. Yakubu Muhammed, disclosed this during a Press briefing over the weekend, at the FCT Emergency Operation Center, Area 11 Garki, Abuja.
According to the Executive Secretary, integrated National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs), Optimized Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week (oMNCHW), and Active Case Search of Diphtheria are part of package targeted for women and children.
Giving a breakdown of the number of children and newborn the board hopes to reach; Dr. Muhammed said it plans to vaccinate One million, two hundred and seventy-five children between zero to fifty-nine months. While One million four hundred and one thousand, eight hundred and five women of childbearing age between 15 to 45 years as well as Three hundred and eighteen thousand, six hundred and four, pregnant women are expected to be reached during the exercise.
He revealed that asides the Two Hundred and fifty-seven, Primary Health Centers, Fourteen Secondary facilities, Fifteen Secondary facilities owned by Ministries, Departments and Agencies, and Three Tertiary health Facilities, the board has set up temporary fixed posts across different locations in the Territory to be able to meet up with the demands of the exercise.
Dr. Muhammed explained that the exercise is an all-encompassing week of free health intervention services for women and children which includes, Deworming using Abenzazole, Oral Hydration using ORS, Vitamin A supplementation for children 9 to 59months, nutrition assessment, immunization of 0 to 59 month olds.
Other packages include Birth registration, exclusive breastfeeding training, hand hygiene and sanitation sensitization, HIV Counselling and Testing, and Family Planning Services.
He called on FCT residents, especially pregnant women and women of child bearing age to take advantage of the one week of free medical services provided by the FCTA and its partners to check themselves and access the package made available.
The Health expert while assuring that adequate sensitization on the services is ongoing across communities, also reassured residents that its staff on the field have received training and retraining to be able to discharge their duties excellently.
In addition, he emphasized that the goal of the exercise is to have a one stop shop for the intervention of maternal and child health care services.
Dr. Muhammed while appreciating its partners, Breakthrough Action Nigeria, Helen Keller International, UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO), said they have contributed to the exercise overtime through technical and financial support, to ensure the reduction of Maternal and Child Mortality in the Nation’s Capital.
