The Open Maternity Project (OMP), a private initiative aimed at improving maternal and child health, has a target of reaching 12,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women, including 22,000 under-five children in Akwa Ibom State this year.
It is an improvement on last year’s programme, which sought to reach 17,000 women in seven local government areas, an indication of its growing impact, Moses Essien, Health Advocate, disclosed in Uyo.
Essien, representing Ibiono Ibom State Constituency in the State House of Assembly and Chairman of the House Committee on Health, Nutrition and Food Security, stated this during the 2026 Ibom Open Maternity Project (IOM2026) organised by the CareLife Character Foundation.
The event, which was organised as part of activities marking the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week, brought together development and healthcare partners, including Helen Keller, GIFA, and ECEWS, as collaborative agencies.
The lawmaker said the project aligns with the healthcare priorities of Governor Umo Eno’s ARISE Agenda, particularly the administration’s commitment to strengthening healthcare delivery and reducing preventable maternal and child deaths.
He reaffirmed his commitment to supporting policies and legislative measures aimed at strengthening the state’s healthcare system while emphasising the need for sustained partnerships beyond government.
Essien, who was honoured with the IOM Distinguished Champion Award for his advocacy and contributions to maternal and infant health, dedicated the recognition to mothers and children, stressing that their wellbeing should remain a priority in governance and public policy.
‘The wellbeing of mothers and children is a fundamental investment in our future,’ he said.
The lawmaker commended the CareLife Character Foundation for its sustained interventions in healthcare delivery, particularly its efforts to improve access to maternal and child health services for vulnerable women and children across Akwa Ibom State.
He urged mothers to embrace exclusive breastfeeding, noting that breastfeeding provides an important foundation for the healthy development of children and should be actively promoted through public awareness, community engagement, and appropriate support for nursing mothers
Earlier, Aniekeme Gorge, Convener and President of the CareLife Character Foundation, said the Ibom Open Maternity Project was designed to encourage exclusive breastfeeding and promote open communication between pregnant women and healthcare workers.
Gorge disclosed that the 2026 edition reached more than 20,000 people across 20 local government areas, representing a significant expansion from the seven covered last year.
Also speaking, Eno Attah, Secretary, State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, stressed the importance of breastfeeding and called for continued support for initiatives that promote maternal and child health.
The programme attracted pregnant and breastfeeding women from 20 LGAs of the State.