Governor Willie Obiano has flagged off the first round Maternal,
Newborn & Child Health Week in the State.

The Flag off was performed at the Primary Healthcare Center, Egbu
Umuenem Otolo Nnewi, Nnewi North council area.

Government House Correspondent, Ejike Abana reports that the event
witnessed the coming together of ndi Nnewi including the former
Governor of Anambra State, Dame Virgy Etiaba, the Commissioner for
Health, Dr Vincent Okpala, government functionaries, Traditional Ruler
of Nnewi, Igwe Kenneth Orizu, among others.

Performing the function, Governor Obiano called on ndi Anambra to make
their children available for the exercise which will end in a week.

The Governor pointed out that his administration’s efforts in the
sector by providing adequate equipments including speed boats to
riverine areas in the State, made the State emerge winner in
immunization beating other States of the federation, stressing that
over two million children have been immunized in the State since 2014.

Governor Obiano urged participants to join to sensitize their
neighbors, calling on people who still think that immunization kill
children to disregard such information.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Vincent Okpala said that the exercise
is the State government’s efforts to boost routine immunization rate,
reduce child morbidity and mortality, thereby increase mother and
child health, among others, adding that they exceeded their efforts in
previous years, and expressed optimism that they will increase their
target in years to come.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the State Primary Health Care
Development Agency, Dr Chioma Ezenyimulu stressed that the exercise is
free, and identified their areas of intervention to include Nutrition
screening, vitamin A supplementation, birth registration, family
planning, distribution of long lasting insecticide treated nets,
deforming, antenatal care, health education, among others.

Symbolic immunization by the Governor as well as chant performance by
children from Dubem Nursery Primary School, featured at the event.