The Sokoto State Government has launched the 2026 Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW), targeting more than 1.4 million mothers and children with essential nutrition and healthcare interventions aimed at reducing malnutrition, childhood illnesses and maternal health complications.
The week-long exercise was flagged off on Monday at Kofar Kade Primary Healthcare Centre in Sokoto North Local Government Area by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Faruk Umar Abubakar, alongside senior government officials, development partners, health workers and community leaders.
Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Abubakar described the programme as one of the state’s most important public health initiatives, designed to bring life-saving services directly to communities.
‘The Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week remains a critical intervention for improving the health and nutritional status of mothers and children across Sokoto State,’ he said.
According to him, the administration is committed to strengthening primary healthcare services and ensuring that vulnerable groups have access to preventive health interventions.
‘We are determined to improve child survival, reduce malnutrition, prevent childhood illnesses and ensure healthier pregnancies through sustained investments in healthcare delivery,’ the commissioner stated.
He urged parents and caregivers to take advantage of the exercise by presenting eligible children and pregnant women at health facilities and designated outreach centres across the state.
‘Every eligible child and pregnant woman should benefit from these services. We call on families to visit the nearest health facility and participate fully in the programme,’ he added.
Under the nutrition component of the campaign, children aged six to 59 months will receive Vitamin A supplements to boost immunity and support healthy growth, while children aged 12 to 59 months will be given deworming tablets to protect against intestinal worm infections linked to malnutrition and poor development.
Pregnant women will also receive Iron-Folic Acid supplements to prevent anaemia and support healthy pregnancies.
Health authorities said the state plans to reach 1,136,399 children with Vitamin A supplementation and deworming services, while 350,741 pregnant women are expected to benefit from Iron-Folic Acid supplementation during the exercise.
Officials described the campaign as a high-impact intervention capable of significantly reducing maternal and child morbidity and mortality across the state.
Dr. Abubakar commended frontline health workers and development partners for their continued support for the health sector.
‘We appreciate the commitment of our health workers, community leaders and development partners, whose contributions continue to strengthen healthcare delivery in Sokoto State,’ he said.
The programme is being supported by development partners, including the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organization, Helen Keller International, Nutrition International, Child Nutrition Fund, Kirk Humanitarian and the Gates Foundation.
Residents across Sokoto State’s 23 local government areas have been encouraged to access the free services at the nearest health facility or outreach point as the government intensifies efforts to improve maternal and child health outcomes.