The Wife of the Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, has reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to reducing maternal and child mortality as she officially flagged off the 2026 First Round of Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) Week.
Speaking at the launch of the statewide health campaign, Dr. Oyebanji described maternal and child healthcare as a critical priority for the administration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji, stressing that no woman should lose her life while giving birth and no child should die from preventable illnesses.
She said the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week is designed to improve access to essential healthcare services for pregnant women, nursing mothers and children under the age of five through free medical interventions across the state.
According to the First Lady, the programme will provide a range of life-saving services, including routine immunisation, vitamin A supplementation, deworming for eligible children, nutritional screening, antenatal care, health education and other preventive healthcare interventions aimed at improving maternal and child health outcomes.
Dr. Oyebanji urged pregnant women and caregivers to take full advantage of the initiative by visiting designated primary healthcare centres and outreach locations to access the free services being offered during the exercise.
She noted that the success of the programme depends largely on community participation, calling on traditional rulers, religious leaders, community-based organisations and healthcare workers to intensify public awareness and encourage families to embrace available maternal and child health services.
The First Lady also commended healthcare professionals, development partners and volunteers for their continued support in strengthening healthcare delivery across Ekiti State. She said collaborative efforts remain essential to achieving sustained reductions in maternal and infant mortality.
She reiterated that the state government would continue to invest in the health sector through improved primary healthcare infrastructure, increased access to quality medical services and policies aimed at protecting the health of women and children.
Health officials at the event highlighted the importance of early antenatal registration, skilled birth attendance, exclusive breastfeeding, childhood immunisation and proper nutrition in preventing avoidable maternal and child deaths.
They explained that the biannual Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week serves as an opportunity to reach vulnerable populations with integrated health services, particularly those in underserved and rural communities where access to healthcare is often limited.
The campaign forms part of broader efforts by the Ekiti State Government to improve healthcare delivery and contribute to Nigeria’s drive towards achieving better maternal and child health indicators.
As the 2026 First Round of the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week gets underway, stakeholders expressed optimism that increased public participation and sustained government support will further strengthen healthcare outcomes and reduce preventable deaths among mothers and children across the state.
