The Lagos State Government, in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has launched the first phase of the 2026 Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW), with plans to provide essential healthcare services to about three million children under the age of five.
The campaign, which was officially flagged off in Oshodi/Isolo Local Government Area, is designed to reduce malnutrition, improve child survival rates, and increase access to preventive healthcare for children and pregnant women across the state.
Speaking during the launch, the head of UNICEF’s Lagos Office, Celine Lafoucriere, said the initiative would include the distribution of Vitamin A supplements to boost children’s immunity and support healthy vision, deworming tablets for eligible children, malnutrition screening for infants, and micronutrient supplements for expectant mothers.
She stressed that the health and nutrition of children in their early years are critical to their physical growth and brain development, emphasizing the importance of providing timely care.
Lafoucriere also noted that UNICEF supplied the Vitamin A capsules and micronutrient supplements while supporting community awareness campaigns and monitoring activities to ensure the programme reaches its target beneficiaries.
She praised the Lagos State Government for committing N156 million through the Child Nutrition Match Fund last year, saying the investment helped procure essential nutrition commodities for children across the state.
She further encouraged the government to ensure the second phase of the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week is completed before the end of November and called for sufficient supplies of deworming tablets for children aged 12 to 59 months.
Representing the wife of the Lagos State Governor, the wife of the Deputy Governor, Oluremi Hamzat, described the initiative as an important step toward expanding access to affordable, high-quality healthcare services and promoting healthy practices among families.
She also advised pregnant women to avoid unqualified birth attendants, warning that seeking care from untrained practitioners continues to contribute to preventable maternal health complications and deaths.
