By Muhammad Jamil Abubakar
There is growing compliance by pregnant women and caregivers as the Gombe State Government, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), intensifies its integrated campaign to improve maternal health and child immunization across the state.
Radio Nigeria Jewel FM Gombe monitored activities at selected Primary Health Care Centres in Gidan Magani and Madaki communities within Gombe metropolis, where pregnant women and mothers turned out in large numbers for antenatal services, immunization and nutritional support.
At the Primary Health Care Centre in Madaki, a pregnant mother, Zainab Auwal Garba, said she regularly attends antenatal clinics and has benefited from multiple micronutrient supplements introduced by health workers. She explained that the supplements have improved her health and that of her unborn baby.
Zainab encouraged pregnant women to always attend antenatal clinics and take the multiple micronutrient supplements provided, noting that the supplements are not readily available in the open market. She thanked the Gombe State Government, the State Primary Health Care Development Agency, UNICEF and other donors for the intervention, and also appreciated her husband for his support.
Another beneficiary, Aishatu Muhammad, a pregnant woman and mother, said unlike her previous pregnancy when she was given only folic acid tablets, the current multiple micronutrient supplements have further strengthened her health. She added that her children regularly receive routine immunization and vitamin A supplements at the health facility.
She advised pregnant women and caregivers to always visit nearby primary healthcare centres for antenatal care and ensure their children are fully immunized.
Similarly, Amina Muhammad commended the Gombe State Government and UNICEF for introducing improved multiple micronutrient supplements. She described the intervention as different and more beneficial than what was previously available, praising the state government’s leadership in prioritizing the health of women and children.
Radio Nigeria reported that the Gombe State Government and UNICEF recently launched the second round of the integrated National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs) and Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW) in Swa community, Balanga Local Government Area.
The campaign, flagged off by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau, is expected to reach over one million women and children across the state. It will provide polio vaccines to children under five, vitamin A supplements to 770,852 children aged six to 59 months, and deworming tablets to children aged 12 to 59 months.
Health workers will also conduct malnutrition screening for children aged six to 59 months and distribute multiple micronutrient supplements to 214,126 pregnant women to improve maternal health outcomes.
The Chief of UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to supporting Gombe State, noting that the agency has supplied more than 20,000 bottles of multiple micronutrient supplements for pregnant women and over 700,000 doses of vitamin A for children.
Dr. Rafique urged parents, caregivers and community leaders to support the campaign to ensure no child is left behind, stressing that immunization remains one of the most effective ways of protecting children from preventable diseases.
The integrated campaign underscores the Gombe State Government’s continued leadership in strengthening primary healthcare and improving the wellbeing of women and children across the state.
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