Health
Benue Reaffirms Commitment to Maternal, Newborn Healthcare as 2026 Health Week Begins
From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi
The Benue State Government has officially flagged off the May–June 2026 Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (MNCH) Week, reaffirming its commitment to improving maternal and child health outcomes and reducing mortality across the state.
The flag-off ceremony, held at Kwararafa Primary Health Care (FSP) Clinic, Makurdi, was performed by the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr.
Ogwuche described the Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Week as a critical intervention aimed at improving access to life-saving healthcare services for women and children across Benue State.
He noted that the week-long exercise, which commenced on June 3 and will run through June 7, 2026, is designed to deliver integrated health services to mothers, newborns, and children, particularly those in underserved and hard-to-reach communities.
He said the initiative aligns with the healthcare transformation agenda and the vision of Governor Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, whose administration has consistently prioritized the strengthening of primary healthcare systems, improved access to quality healthcare services, and the reduction of preventable maternal and child deaths across the state.
He stated that maternal and child health remains a key indicator of societal development and called for sustained collective action to address preventable deaths resulting from pregnancy-related complications and childhood illnesses.
In his words, “Every mother deserves quality healthcare before, during, and after childbirth, while every child deserves the opportunity to survive, grow, and reach their full potential. This Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Week provides an opportunity to intensify interventions that will safeguard the lives of mothers and children throughout Benue State.”
He disclosed that during the exercise, pregnant women would receive focused antenatal care services, micronutrient supplementation, health education, and counseling, while children would benefit from routine immunization, Vitamin A supplementation, deworming, nutrition screening, and other essential child survival interventions.
Other services to be provided during the week include HIV testing and counseling, distribution of Long-Lasting Insecticide-Treated Nets (LLINs), birth registration services, newborn care interventions, family planning counseling, malaria prevention education, and promotion of proper hygiene practices.
The Commissioner urged mothers, fathers, caregivers, and community leaders to actively participate in the programme and encourage community members to take advantage of the free health services being offered throughout the exercise.
He also commended healthcare workers across the state for their dedication and sacrifices in ensuring quality healthcare delivery despite prevailing challenges, describing them as the backbone of the state’s healthcare system.
Addressing development partners and donor agencies, Dr. Ogwuche acknowledged their continued support to the health sector and called for stronger collaboration to expand healthcare coverage and improve health outcomes for vulnerable populations.
He further stressed the importance of data collection and monitoring during the exercise, noting that evidence generated from the programme would help government and partners identify service gaps, improve planning, and strengthen future interventions.
He particularly called on traditional rulers, religious leaders, and community influencers to support sensitization efforts by mobilizing families to access the available services and adopt healthy behaviors that promote maternal and child survival.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the Ministry of Health and Human Services to ensuring equitable healthcare access across the state, stressing that outreach teams would be deployed to remote communities to ensure that no woman or child is left behind due to geographical or economic barriers.
He noted that the success of the Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Week would contribute significantly to achieving the broader goals of Universal Health Coverage and strengthening the health sector in line with the administration’s strategic development agenda.
Officially declaring the programme open, the Commissioner called on all stakeholders to work collectively towards reducing preventable maternal and child deaths and building a healthier future for the people of Benue State.
The flag-off ceremony featured health education sessions, community mobilization activities, sensitization campaigns, and the commencement of integrated maternal and child healthcare services for beneficiaries at the facility.
The Ministry of Health and Human Services reiterated its commitment to sustaining interventions that improve maternal, newborn, and child health outcomes as part of the ongoing efforts to build a healthier, stronger, and more prosperous Benue State under the leadership of Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia.
The programme brought together officials of the Benue State Primary Health Care Board, development partners, healthcare professionals, traditional and religious leaders, community representatives, mothers, caregivers, and other stakeholders in the health sector.
Continue Reading