Gombe Govt launches program to strengthen primary health care services
Ibrahim Umar
Kanempress
16th, August,2023
Gombe State Government has launched the first round of Maternal Newborn Child Health Week (MNCH) and Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMG) to strengthen routine Primary Health Care services.
Kanempress learn that the program is a joint effort between the State Ministry of Health and the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency and took place at the Primary Health Care Centre in Lalaipido, in the Shongom Local Government Area.
The Gombe State Deputy Governor, Manassah Daniel Jatau, who also heads the Taskforce on Routine Immunization in the state, emphasized the importance of health across all aspects of human endeavors. During the Maternal Newborn Child Health Week (MNCH), the state will also implement seasonal malaria chemoprevention, recognizing the rainy season as a time when malaria parasites thrive due to dense vegetation and stagnant water in the environment.
The interventions are aimed at reinforcing routine Primary Health Care services, benefiting primarily pregnant women, mothers, and children aged 0-59 months.
He mentioned that the state government, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health through the National Malaria Elimination Program (NMEP) and with support from the Global Fund Malaria Grant, along with other stakeholders in the fight against malaria, has intensified efforts to significantly reduce the prevalence of malaria.
This is being achieved by focusing on children aged 3-59 months through the implementation of seasonal malaria chemoprevention using sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine plus Amodiaquine.
Interventions in the numbers
Dr Abdulrahaman Shuaibu, the Executive Secretary of the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, informed the audience that throughout the weeklong initiative, more than 800,000 children aged 3-59 months will receive free anti-malarial medications.
Additionally, approximately 200,000 pregnant women will benefit from other essential life-saving interventions.
The event’s highlights encompassed the administration of supplements, and an inspection of the health centre, among other activities.
