The Cross River State Government, in collaboration with Development Partners, has launched the Optimized Maternal Newborn and Child Health (OMNCH) Week Round 1. This initiative aims to improve the health and nutrition of mothers, newborns and children 0 to 5 years in the State.
Launching the exercise on Thursday in Odukpani Local Government Area, Reverend Mrs. Eyoanwan Bassey Otu, the Wife of the Governor of Cross River State, represented by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Gender Mainstreaming, Dr Inyang Asibong emphasized the importance of breastfeeding and proper nutrition for infants, children and women.
She noted that research has shown a 23% prevalence of stunting and 5% prevalence of wasting in Cross River State, indicating severe or moderate malnutrition among children under the age of five.
These facts can be attributed to poor feeding practices among our infants, young children, adolescents and women, among other causes.
The Commissioner for Health , Dr Henry Ayuk while speaking, encouraged all families in the State to join hands to standardise feeding practices among infants through Exclusive Breastfeeding and Zero water for young children, adolescents and women especially our pregnant women”, she said.
The DG PHCDA, Dr Vivien Otu, asserted that the exercise aims to encourage families to prioritize optimized maternal newborn and child health, promoting evidence-based care approaches like Eat, Sleep, Console (ESC) for newborns. This initiative seeks to improve infant survival rates, reduce mortality and the risk of ovarian and breast cancer in mothers, and enhance child development and school attendance.
Dignitaries present at the event included the SA to the Governor on Women Mobilization and Development Mrs Grace Egwu, the HOLGA, Odukpani LGA, Obol Felix Eyimon, Traditional and Religious Leaders and representatives from WHO, UNICEF, and Nutrition International who co-hosted the activity.
