Earlier today, July 14, 2025, Bauchi State flagged off its bi-annual Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) Week — a critical public health campaign aimed at reducing preventable deaths among mothers and children.
The week-long initiative delivers integrated, life-saving healthcare services to families across the state, with a strong focus on nutrition screening, vitamin A supplementation, routine immunizations, antenatal care, food demonstrations, deworming, and hygiene practices such as hand washing. These services are offered through fixed posts and outreach clinics to ensure accessibility even in hard-to-reach communities.
In a significant move this year, the state government, in collaboration with health partners, introduced the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination for children aged 9 to 14. This addition targets the prevention of cervical cancer, a rising concern among adolescents, and signals Bauchi’s commitment to broader and more inclusive health interventions.
The Executive Chairman of the Bauchi State Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed, led the official flag-off ceremony. He was joined by key stakeholders from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), and implementing partners from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
In their remarks, partners expressed strong support for the initiative, noting the importance of sustained community outreach, early interventions, and consistent funding to strengthen healthcare outcomes in Bauchi and beyond.
MNCH Week remains a vital platform for reaching thousands of mothers and children with essential health services, and the inclusion of the HPV vaccine marks a bold step toward preventive healthcare in the state.
