The Federal Capital Territory Primary Health Care Development Board says it is targeting one million children in the territory to immunise against polio and other childhood diseases.
Dr Mathew Ashikeni, the Executive Secretary of the Board, disclosed this at the inauguration of the 16th round of Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week in Abuja on Thursday, November 30, 2017.
Ashikeni explained that apart from vaccination to children against killer diseases, there would be nutritional assessment of children for malnutrition.
He also said that vitamin A supplement would be provided for children under the age of five to boost their immunity and improve their visions.
Ashikeni said that 60,000 pregnant women would be targeted for HIV testing and other free health services during the exercise.
According to him, health workers have been well mobilised to ensure all children and pregnant women in the territory are reached.
The secretary urged the residents to come out to access the free health services that would be provided during the health week.
In her remarks, the Secretary FCTA Health and Human Services, Ms Amanda Pam said that the present administration was committed to ensure healthy living of children and women in the territory.
Pam explained that FCT administration had engaged 50 midwives to be posted to Primary Health Care facilities across the territory and had distributed essential drugs to 60 PHC facilities.
According to her, the FCTA has just constructed 12 new PHC facilities and renovated 18 of them to provide health care services to the people.
By Mustapha Yauri
