Kogi State Government has flagged off the first round of its Integrated Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week, Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) Campaign, rolling out a comprehensive package of life-saving health services across the state.
The statewide campaign, officially launched on Thursday in Lokoja, brought together traditional rulers, religious leaders, development partners, healthcare workers, and community members in a renewed effort to improve maternal and child health outcomes and curb preventable diseases.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abdulazeez Adams Adeiza, described the initiative as “an integrated campaign for life,” aimed at reducing maternal and child mortality, preventing cervical cancer, and eliminating neglected tropical diseases through a single, coordinated intervention.
He said the campaign was informed by health data showing gaps in routine immunisation, antenatal care, HPV vaccination, and the burden of neglected tropical diseases on children.
“Our data clearly shows where children are missing routine vaccines, where mothers are not accessing antenatal care, where girls remain vulnerable to HPV, and where neglected tropical diseases continue to keep children out of school. But data without action is only numbers.
“That is why Kogi, through the State Ministry of Health and the Kogi State Primary Health Care Development Agency (KSPHCDA), with support from WHO, UNICEF, SightSavers, and other partners, has integrated these interventions into one campaign—one team, one visit, multiple life-saving services,” he said.
According to the commissioner, beneficiaries will receive Vitamin A supplementation, deworming tablets, growth monitoring, antenatal care, nutrition counselling, iron-folate supplements for pregnant women, HPV vaccination for nine-year-old girls to prevent cervical cancer, as well as mass drug administration against schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths.
Dr. Adeiza noted that the campaign prioritises health equity by extending services to underserved communities, including hard-to-reach riverine settlements, markets, and schools.
He urged mothers and caregivers to ensure children under five and pregnant women have access to the free services, stressing that Vitamin A helps prevent childhood blindness while deworming improves children’s health and learning capacity.
He also encouraged parents to vaccinate eligible girls against HPV, describing the vaccine as safe, effective, and critical in preventing cervical cancer.
Flagging off the campaign on behalf of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, the commissioner said the administration remains committed to ensuring no resident is left behind in accessing quality healthcare.
He added that adequate logistics and security arrangements had been put in place to guarantee smooth service delivery across all parts of the state, including difficult-to-reach riverine communities.
The Executive Director of the Kogi State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Musa Omeiza Muazu, said the integrated approach reflects the reality that communities often face multiple health challenges simultaneously.
“One health team will deliver multiple interventions during a single visit, making healthcare more efficient, accessible and equitable,” he said.
Muazu commended the state government, WHO, UNICEF, SightSavers and other development partners for supporting the initiative and called on traditional rulers, market associations, youth groups, and community leaders to mobilise residents.
“Let no child be missed,” he appealed.
Speaking on behalf of development partners, UNICEF State Facilitator Mr. Olumide Adeyeye said the integrated exercise combines critical health interventions to improve the well-being of mothers and children.
He urged all stakeholders to work together to ensure the campaign’s success while calling on health workers to uphold professionalism throughout the exercise.
Earlier, the State Nutrition Officer, Mr. Abdulazeez Usman, said nutrition teams would provide growth monitoring for children under five, Vitamin A supplementation, nutrition counselling using locally available foods such as beans, eggs, ugu, and moringa, as well as iron-folate supplements for pregnant women.
He explained that HPV vaccination remains one of the most effective tools for preventing cervical cancer, while deworming helps children absorb nutrients needed for healthy growth and development.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Sadiya Abubakar, expressed appreciation to the state government for providing the free healthcare services, describing the program as a major relief for nursing mothers and families across Kogi State.
(Kogi Report)
