By  DEMOLA AKINYEMI

ILORIN—Kwara State Ministry of Health, has commenced its maternal, neo-natal and child health programme across the 16 local government areas of the state in its bid to provide health care services to  children and pregnant women in the state.

Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Kayode Issa, announced this yesterday  at one of the centres in Ilorin.

According to him, “In Kwara State as at today, we have up to 5,000 children from zero to five years, while we have about 120,000 women of child bearing age.

“With this we are looking at covering up to 500,000 both children ages zero to five and the pregnant women. Government is targeting children between age zero to five years and pregnant women because we are going to provide iron foliage to prevent the death of women resulting from anaemia in pregnancy.”

“We aim to reach a target of about 25,000 children and women in the four pilot centres at Ajikobi, Adewole, Okelele and Children Specialist Hospital but in the entire state we hope to cover up to 500,000 children ages zero to five years, and pregnant women.”

He also explained that the exercise involve mobilising people from their home to benefit from the programme.

The commissioner, who said the programme would be conducted in each of 193 wards in the state with the use of about 250 personnel, added that it is a positive strategy to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, MDG, 4 and 5 which are to improve maternal health and reduce mortality in children.

He also said that the state government would spend about N9million on the programme, adding that other items like ACT malaria drugs will be provided for children.