The Kwara State Government on Monday announced the commencement of the December Optimised Maternal Newborn and Child Health across the 16 local government areas of the state.

Dr Nusirat Elelu, the Executive Secretary of Kwara Primary Health Care Development Agency, told newsmen in her office that the Week commenced Dec. 4 and continued till Dec. 8.

According to her, the week will focus on the reduction of maternal, perinatal, infant and childhood mortality, morbidity and the promotion of reproductive health, and the physical and psychosocial development of the child and adolescent within the family.

The executive secretary further explained that the campaign is set aside to provide free services, including antenatal care for pregnant women and deworming.

She also said it included distribution of iron tablets, folic acid supplementation for women, free birth registration, vitamin A supplementation, family planning, free HIV testing, and routine immunisation for all vaccine preventable diseases, among others.

Elelu stressed that the exercise is part of the numerous commitments of the Kwara Government at ensuring that people in the state have access to quality healthcare service delivery irrespective of their geographical locations.

She therefore enjoined pregnant women, nursing mothers and caregivers to visit the nearest designated health centres to benefit from all these free and safe services.

NAN