By Murtala Muhammad
UNICEF has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Bauchi State in improving health services for women and children through the ongoing Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week.
UNICEF Health Officer, Dr David Audu, made this known during the launch of the week-long MNCHW campaign, combined with the Human Papillomavirus vaccination for nine-year-old girls across the state.
Dr David Audu, described cervical cancer as deadly, noting that 90 percent of deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries like Nigeria.
Citing 2020 data, Dr Audu said in Nigeria more than 600,000 women were infected with cervical cancer and 430,000 died, stressing the need for urgent intervention.
He highlighted HPV vaccine as the only effective prevention and assured of UNICEF’s continued collaboration with government to safeguard lives of women and children.
Executive Chairman of the State Primary Health Care Board, said the campaign will also deliver Vitamin A, deworming, nutrition advice, Multiple Micronutrients Supplements MMS, birth registration, and other essential services for mothers and young children.
World Health Organisation official Dr Yarima Kucici lamented Nigeria records one maternal death every seven minutes and called for stronger support to halt the trend.
He noted that the HPV vaccination in this round of MNCH Week strictly targets nine-year-old girls, differing from the scope of previous health campaigns.