Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (ASPHCDA) in collaboration with partner agencies has announced the commencement of first round modified Integrated Medical Outreach Programme (mI-MOP), the Executive Secretary ASPHCDA Dr Chioma Ezenyimulu made the announcement during the State Social Mobilization Committee (SSMC) meeting at ASPHCDA Office Complex in Awka.
She noted that the activity which commenced yesterday will end on the 9th of october 2020 in 11 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and is aimed at boosting uptake of immunization and other Primary Healthcare (PHC) services in the state.
She listed the LGAs to be covered which are Ekwusigo, Idemili North, Orumba North, Onitsha South, Ogbaru, Ihiala, Oyi, Dunukofia, Ayamelum, Anambra East and Anambra West LGAs, While stating that the Target beneficiaries are children from 14 weeks to 59 months (under 5 years), mothers and pregnant women at health facilities and in designated locations in the communities.
Dr Ezenyimulu while enjoining caregivers to take their children to health centres for immunization along with the children’s immunization cards noted that there would be free treatment of minor ailments during the activity.
The State Immunization Officer (SIO), Mrs Nkechi Onwuvunka explained that the mI-MOP activity was scheduled to increase uptake of immunization as it is targeted at improving Routine Immunization (RI) at facility level as well as sensitize the people towards utilization of PHCs around them and the services they render.
UNICEF Communication for Development (C4D) Consultant, Mr Adeyinka Adeosun noted that the activity was a nationwide programme which was inaugurated at the national level on March 16, 2020 but was interrupted by lockdown necessitated by Coronavirus pandemic.
He urged the SSMC stakeholders to help in spreading information about the activity to the public using various media including churches and schools as it was important the selected LGAs were effectively covered.
