Hussaini Ibrahim 
BAUCHI, Nigeria – The Integrated Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week is underway across Bauchi State, with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) urging parents, caregivers and pregnant women to take advantage of free healthcare services available at more than 600 primary healthcare facilities.
The week-long intervention aims to improve maternal and child health by providing multiple lifesaving services—including immunisation, Vitamin A supplementation, nutrition support and maternal healthcare—during a single clinic visit.
Speaking on Thursday, UNICEF Bauchi Field Office Chief Dr Nuzhat Rafique says the agency and its partners have invested ₦460 million in procuring and distributing essential medical commodities to support the campaign.
She explains that the intervention is designed to expand access to preventive healthcare services while improving health outcomes for women, newborns, children and adolescent girls across the state.
According to Rafique, the supplies include 311,500 doses of blue Vitamin A capsules, 1.2 million doses of red Vitamin A capsules, Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines and Multiple Micronutrient Supplements for eligible beneficiaries.
She says integrating several healthcare services into one campaign will increase efficiency, improve coverage and ensure that more families benefit from essential health interventions.
“The integrated approach will improve efficiency, increase healthcare coverage and ensure more women and children benefit from essential health services.”
Rafique urges parents and caregivers to visit the nearest participating primary healthcare facility before the exercise concludes, stressing that early access to preventive healthcare remains critical to reducing maternal and child deaths.
The Integrated Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week is a routine public health intervention aimed at strengthening child survival through immunisation, nutrition support, Vitamin A supplementation and maternal health services.
UNICEF commends the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and development partners—including the World Health Organization (WHO), Nutrition International, FHI and MITOSATH—for supporting the programme.
About the Author
Edino Chubiyo Cornelius 
Oluwatobi Adu 