FCTA aims to vaccinate 1.5 million children during health week

The Federal Capital Territory Primary Health Care Board has announced plans to vaccinate over 1.5 million children during the 2026 Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week.

The Mandate Secretary for FCT Health Services and Environment, Adedolapo Fasawe, shared this news during a media orientation before the event scheduled for 3 June to 7 June.

Okoli Nicholas, the acting director of Primary Health Care at FPHCB, represented Ms Fasawe. She described the MNCHW as a biannual programme aimed at providing essential healthcare services to families.

She explained that the vaccination drive will boost routine immunisation services, offer Vitamin A supplements for children aged six to 59 months, and enhance child survival efforts.

Children aged 12 to 59 months will receive deworming medication. Health workers will also check for malnutrition and provide advice on feeding and hygiene.

Ms Fasawe added that pregnant women will have access to antenatal and postnatal care to improve health outcomes for mothers and newborns in the FCT.

"We will focus on iron-folate supplementation, malaria prevention in pregnancy when needed, breastfeeding and newborn care advice, and we provide family planning information and services," she said.

She highlighted the media's important role in making sure families receive the right information about the programme and know where and when to access services.

"The media’s role in this effort is key. You help families know when and where to go. You build trust by sharing clear, verified information.

"You counter rumours with facts, and you highlight the dedication of our frontline health workers while keeping us accountable," she said.

Ms Fasawe stressed that all services during this exercise will be free for beneficiaries in the FCT and nearby communities.

She said the programme will take place at all Primary Health Care Centres across the six area councils, outreach points, and hard-to-reach areas through mobile teams.

"Parents should bring their child’s health card. If they don’t have one, it will be provided on site. Zero-dose and defaulting children are welcome; no child will be turned away."

She called on media practitioners to help spread the campaign messages using community radio stations, newspapers, social media platforms and programmes aimed at underserved populations.

"Our appeal to you is to take these messages beyond city centres, into community radio, into local newspapers, and social media groups.

"And through programmes that reach informal settlements, rural communities, and nomadic populations," Ms Fasawe said.

Chinyere Ekwueme, the state nutrition officer for FCT, mentioned that mobile medical teams will visit schools, churches, and mosques to make sure eligible children get vaccinated.

She said this outreach strategy aims to improve coverage and reach children whose families may struggle to access fixed health facilities during the exercise.

Umeh Chinyere, the state health education officer for FPHCB, also spoke and urged journalists to help build public confidence in the board’s healthcare programmes.

She said accurate and fair reporting will encourage more people to participate in the exercise and help clear up misunderstandings that often stop parents from seeking immunisation services.