Published: Friday, 23 November 2018 18:00
Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr. TT. Samba administring Vitamin A Supplement to Under-5 Child
Friday 23rd November, 2018-11-23-The Ministry of Health and Sanitation and it partners on Friday 23rd November, 2018 has officially launched the Maternal and Child Health Week commonly knows as MAMMIE EN PIKIN WELBODI WEEK at the Methodist Church Compound Kinghaman Road, Freetown. The launching attracted the attendance of over 200 pregnant women, suckling mothers and Under5 children. The campaign starts from Friday 23rd November to Monday 26th November.
Speaking during the ceremony, The UNICEF Representative to Sierra Leone Dr. Hamid El-Bashir Ibrahim lauded the Government of Sierra Leone and it partners on the significant reduction in under-five child mortality in Sierra Leone. He went on to say “From 1990-2017, Sierra Leone has experienced significant reduction in under-five child mortality from 262 per 1,000 live births in 1990 to119 per 1,000 live births in 2017.”
The UNICEF Rep called on the Government and it partners on the need to accelerate efforts to lessen the incidence of child mortality in the country in order to achieve Sustainable Development Goals. He stressed that it is through the delivery of evidence based, cost effective and simple interventions such as immunization, Vitamin A supplementation and deworming of children under-five that unwarranted death of children under-five years can be prevented.
While delivering his statement, the Chief Executive Officer of Focus 1000 Mr. Mohammad Bailor Jalloh called on the Kombra Network an entity that comprises religious leaders, market women, journalists, traditional healers and CSOs to render their fullest support during this week by preaching on the importance of exclusive breastfeeding, immunization during their Sunday’s and Friday’s sermons. He also appealed to fathers to take up the responsibility in supporting their wives in seeing that their children are vaccinated during this campaign. He stressed that no child should be left unvaccinated otherwise this programme will not be deemed successful.
In his Keynote Address, the Deputy Chief Medical Officer Rev Canon. Dr. T.T. Samba re-echoed government’s commitment on health improvement across the board by giving an ultimatum towards the realisation of not only the MAMMIE EN PIKIN WELBODI WEEK but also to the improvement of the Free Health Care. He maintained that this is the desire of government and its partners.
The Directorate of the Food and Nutrition Representative Madame Sholade reiterated that the campaign would cover seven districts in the country and will target Under 5 Children with Vitamin A Supplement, Children 12-59 months will receive Free de-worming treatment, defaulted Under 2 children will be also traced to complete their vaccination while pregnant women will be giving appropriate messages on the importance of 8 antenatal care visits.