By: Mukhtar Yahaya Shehu
Kano state government has reiterated its commitment to partner with relevant stakeholders to tackle the maternal, newborn and child Health across the state.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf stated this during the flag off of maternal, newborn and child Health week in the state.
The Governor represented by the state commissioner for health Dr Abubakar Labaran Yusuf said the weeklong activity will take place in all the 44 LGAs of Kano State and will provide Immunisation services, Vitamin A supplementation, Multiple Micronutrient Supplements and nutrition screening, including birth registration.
The commissioner called on parents and caregivers to ensure their children are not left behind.
” Let me use this opportunity to express my appreciation to nutrition International, UNICEF, WHO and all our partners for their support which will contribute significantly to the success of this campaign.” Dr Labaran added
Speaking earlier, the UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Kano, Shafeeq Ur-Rehman said the event marks more than the launch of a campaign. It represents a renewed commitment to ensuring that every pregnant woman, every newborn, and every child has access to essential health and nutrition services, while also ensuring that every child is recognized, protected, and counted through birth registration.
According to Shafeeq Ur-Rehaman the first two years of life are the most critical for a child’s growth and development. Yet too many children continue to suffer from preventable diseases, malnutrition, and missed opportunities simply because essential services do not reach them in time.
“This important event reaffirms our collective commitment to safeguarding the health and well-being of mothers, newborns, children and families across Kano State.
The Integrated Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week campaign provides a unique opportunity to deliver multiple high-impact low-cost interventions through one coordinated platform.
During this campaign, children will receive life-saving vitamin A supplementation, deworming tablets and immunization services as appropriate. Children will also be screened for malnutrition so that those requiring treatment can be identified early and referred for appropriate care. Pregnant women will receive multiple micronutrient supplements and other essential maternal health services.” Shafeeq Ur-Rehaman said
According to the UNICEF chief field office Kano Equally important is the integration of birth registration into this campaign. Every child has the right to a legal identity from birth. A birth certificate is more than a document—it is a gateway to education, health care, social protection, and legal rights.
“By bringing birth registration closer to communities through this integrated approach, Kano State is making it easier for families to secure their children’s future.
We would like to acknowledge the partnership and generous funding support of partners: Nutrition International, the Government of Canada, the Government of the United States of America, the Government of the Netherlands and the Gates Foundation. Their support will contribute to the MNCHW in various ways:
Through this campaign, we aim to reach 2.7 million children 6-59 months with Vitamin A (Blue and Red capsule)
97,129 pregnant women with multiple micronutrient supplements. He added
Shafeeq Ur-Rehaman further said the Campaign is across the state covering 1,324 health facilities in all 484 wards of the 44 Local Government Areas of Kano State.
“And we Ensure Birth Registration Services are available during the campaign.
I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the Kano State Government for its generous allocation of Two Hundred Million Naira (₦200 million) toward the procurement of Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS). Shafeeq said
He also said this is significant investment demonstrates the Government’s strong commitment to improving maternal and child nutrition and advancing public health outcomes across the state.
UNICEF calls upon parents and caregivers to take full advantage of the free services offered during this campaign.
Shafeeq Ur-Rehaman pointed out that UNICEF remains committed to supporting the Government of Kano State to strengthen health systems, improve nutrition services, expand immunization, promote birth registration, and ensure that the most vulnerable children and women are reached, especially those living in underserved communities.
