The Ondo State Government has intensified efforts to boost maternal newborn child health, the Press Officer, Ondo State Ministry of Health, Abooluwa Famakinwa, said in a statement issued in Akure, the state capital.

He noted that the first round of the Maternal Newborn Child Health (MNCH) Week in the state, held June 5 - 9, covered activities, such as Vitamin A supplementation, deworming of children, immunization for children and pregnant mothers, health talks, distribution of Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets, giving folic acid and iron for pregnant women, among others.

Famakinwa disclosed that, as part of its oversight functions, the state’s Ministry of Health was on hand to monitor the extent to which the coverage of the MNCH week was achieved.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr Taiye Oni, led the team which included Directors of the Ministry, the Hospitals’ Management Board and M & E officers to monitor the implementation of the programme in the 18 local government areas of the state.

The team engaged the use of one on one interviews, checking tally sheets, and made use of checklists to ensure the implementation of the programme with adequate coverage.

According to the statement, the coordinated large scale monitoring was made possible through the Ondo State Saving One Million Lives Programme for Result (SOMLPforR).

Dr Oni who expressed satisfaction at the conduct of the programme expressed optimism that the state will surpass the SOMLPforR target on Vitamin A supplementation.

The feedback from the team of Directors of the Ministry of Health and the Hospitals’ Management Board who were at the three senatorial district of the state rated the MNCH week very high.

“It is a huge success as all officers were on their toes and the desired target was achieved,” the team stated.