As part of ongoing efforts to boost maternal and child health in Kano, the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, has called on the state government, KNSG, to increase paid maternity leave days to better protect maternal and infant health and promote exclusive breastfeeding.
Speaking during the launch of the first round of the 2025 Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Week (MNCHW) in Madobi LGA Kano.
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The Chief UNICEF Field Office Kano, Mr. Rahama Rihood Mohammed Farah, emphasised the importance of supportive workplace policies for mothers, especially in the early stages of a child’s life.
He further urged the state government to allocate more resources to maternal and child health services in 2025.
The chief noted that UNICEF is prepared to match these efforts by procuring additional commodities such as Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) and Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) through the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF).
Highlighting the need for continuity, Mr. Farah recommended that Kano State conduct the second round of MNCH Week no later than December 2025, and ensure that deworming tablets are procured in sufficient quantities to reach all children aged 12–59 months across the state.
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He also stressed the importance of investing in healthcare workforce expansion, particularly in rural areas, to support 24-hour service delivery and bridge access gaps in underserved communities.
“The implementation of two rounds of MNCH Week annually allows for the delivery of essential services, including Vitamin A supplementation, deworming, antimalarial treatment, immunisation, and MMS for pregnant women. These interventions are key to improving health outcomes among women and children in Kano State”
“For the first round of 2025, UNICEF has supplied adequate quantities of Vitamin A and MMS to reach more than 2.6 million children aged 6–59 months and around 500,000 pregnant women, covering 80% of the targeted population”
He highlighted that”UNICEF is also encouraging caregivers to take full advantage of the MNCH Week to improve routine immunisation coverage, with special focus on pentavalent, polio, HPV, and tetanus-diphtheria (Td) vaccines”
Mr. Farah reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to working closely with the Kano State Government to improve nutrition, health, and survival of women and children across the state.