Free maternal, child health services begin across Lagos
By Kinsley Samuel
The Lagos State Government has flagged off the first round of the 2026 Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health and Nutrition, MNCAH+N, Week, urging residents to embrace preventive healthcare, avoid unqualified healthcare providers and take advantage of free health services available across the state.
The week-long programme, which runs from July 20 to July 24, offers free healthcare services at all public primary healthcare centres and designated facilities across Lagos.
Speaking during the flag-off ceremony at the Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Secretariat, the First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, represented by the wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Oluremi Hamzat, described the initiative as a strategic intervention aimed at delivering life-saving healthcare services to mothers, children, adolescents and families.
She said the programme would improve access to essential healthcare while promoting positive health-seeking behaviour through free Vitamin A supplementation, deworming, routine immunisation, antenatal and postnatal care, family planning, nutrition counselling, growth monitoring, tuberculosis screening, HIV counselling and testing as well as health education.
The First Lady also expressed concern over the rising cases of gender-based violence and drug abuse among young people.
According to her, over 4,000 rape cases were recorded in the state in 2025, while substance abuse among adolescents continues to pose a growing public health challenge.
She urged residents to report incidents of domestic and sexual violence through the state’s toll-free line, stressing that government would continue to protect victims and prosecute offenders.
Sanwo-Olu also warned pregnant women against patronising unqualified birth attendants, saying the activities of quacks had continued to contribute to preventable maternal and newborn deaths.
“Our pregnant women should stop seeking services from quacks. I call on the Traditional Medicine Board, law enforcement agencies and community leaders to strengthen monitoring efforts and bring these criminals to justice,” she said.
Highlighting the impact of previous editions, she disclosed that more than 4.19 million children received Vitamin A supplements, while over 4.36 million children were dewormed.
She added that over 17,500 pregnant women and nursing mothers benefited from antenatal and postnatal services, while more than 216,900 women and men accessed family planning services.
She expressed optimism that this year’s exercise would record even greater success, noting that healthcare workers had been adequately trained.
Earlier, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, described the MNCAH+N Week as one of Lagos State’s most successful public health interventions.
She noted that the programme, which originated in Lagos before its adoption by the National Council on Health in 2010, targets children under five years, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, adolescents and men requiring preventive healthcare services.
According to Ogunyemi, beneficiaries will receive routine immunisation, nutrition screening, family planning, micronutrient supplements, tuberculosis screening, HIV counselling and testing, alongside counselling on hygiene, substance abuse and gender-based violence.
She noted that maternal and child mortality remained a major public health challenge despite progress made over the years and urged parents and caregivers to take advantage of the free services.
Ogunyemi also appreciated development partners, including UNICEF, UNFPA, the Gates Foundation and Agrim Pharmaceuticals, for supporting the initiative.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Dayo Lajide, called on residents to encourage family members and neighbours to utilise government health facilities.
She also commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for approving the implementation of the programme and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving healthcare delivery.
Also speaking, the Executive Chairman of Oshodi-Isolo Local Government, Otunba Kehinde Almaroof-Oluyede, said the council remained committed to strengthening primary healthcare through improved infrastructure and emergency response services.
He cited the ongoing construction of the Ogunlana Primary Health Centre and rehabilitation of the Ogunoloko Primary Health Centre as part of efforts to improve healthcare access at the grassroots.
Delivering a goodwill message, UNICEF Lagos Chief of Office, Celine Lafoucriere, commended the state government for sustaining investments in maternal and child health.
She noted that Lagos is home to about three million children under the age of five and said UNICEF supported the campaign with Vitamin A capsules, micronutrient supplements and community mobilisation.
Lafoucriere urged the state to ensure a successful second round of the exercise before the end of November and procure adequate deworming tablets for eligible children.
Representatives of the Centre for Clinical Care and Clinical Research Nigeria, CCCRN, and Agrim Pharmaceutical Healthcare Industry also reaffirmed their commitment to supporting community health interventions and improving access to quality healthcare across the state.
The programme will run daily from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at all public primary healthcare facilities and designated centres across Lagos.
