By GARBA MUHAMMAD

Kaduna State Government has flagged off the first phase of the 2026 Integrated Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW) alongside the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign at the Primary Health Care Centre in Ikara Local Government Area.

Speaking during the flag-off ceremony, the State Deputy Governor, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, said that the programme reflects the State Government’s sustained commitment to improving maternal and child health outcomes across the state.

She explained that the exercise would provide an opportunity for women, children and adolescent girls, especially those in underserved communities, to access essential healthcare services free of charge.

According to her, the inclusion of HPV vaccination in the programme is aimed at strengthening efforts to prevent cervical cancer among adolescent girls.

The Deputy Governor disclosed that the exercise would be conducted across all the 255 wards in the state through over 1,000 public and private health facilities from June 8 to 12, 2026.

She listed services to be provided during the exercise to include routine immunisation, HPV vaccination for nine-year-old girls, nutrition screening, Vitamin A supplementation, deworming, maternal supplements, HIV testing, as well as treatment of common childhood illnesses.

She called on community and religious leaders to support mobilisation efforts by encouraging families to utilise the services, noting that preventable diseases still account for maternal and child deaths in many communities.

The Deputy Governor also commended development partners and relevant agencies for their support towards the success of the programme before formally declaring the 2026 MNCH Week Plus HPV vaccination campaign open.