The Lagos State Government has officially flagged off the first round of its 2026 Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health and Nutrition (MNCAH+N) Week, issuing a stern warning to residents to avoid unqualified medical personnel and actively embrace preventive healthcare. Running from July 20 to July 24, the week-long initiative provides free life-saving healthcare services across all public primary healthcare centers (PHCs) and designated community sites statewide.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony held at the Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Secretariat, the First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. (Mrs.) Ibijoke Claudiana Sanwo-Olu—represented by the Wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Oluremi Hamzat—highlighted the exercise as a vital platform to deliver high-impact health services to mothers, children, adolescents, and families.
Free High-Impact Health Interventions Across Lagos
The initiative aims to expand access to essential medical care while encouraging healthier lifestyle choices among residents. Throughout the week, public health centers across the state will offer Vitamin A supplementation, deworming, family planning, antenatal and postnatal care, routine immunizations, nutrition counseling, growth monitoring, tuberculosis screening, HIV counseling and testing, and health education.
Zero Tolerance for Quackery and Gender-Based Violence
Addressing critical public health and social issues, the First Lady expressed deep concern over the patronage of illegal healthcare providers, linking unqualified birth attendants to preventable maternal complications and deaths. She also addressed social issues, citing that more than 4,000 rape cases were recorded in 2025, alongside rising adolescent drug abuse.
“Our pregnant women should stop seeking services from quacks,” Dr. Sanwo-Olu stated. “I call on the Traditional Medicine Board, law enforcement agencies, and community leaders to strengthen monitoring efforts and bring these criminals to justice.”
She urged residents to report cases of domestic and sexual violence using the state’s dedicated toll-free line, 08000333333, reassuring the public that the government remains resolute in protecting vulnerable citizens and prosecuting offenders.
Track Record of Public Health Achievements
Reflecting on past accomplishments, the First Lady revealed that previous editions reached millions of Lagosians, providing Vitamin A supplements to over 4.19 million children, deworming 4.36 million children, offering antenatal and postnatal services to more than 17,500 mothers, and delivering family planning services to over 216,900 individuals. With fully trained health personnel deployed, officials expect even higher coverage for the 2026 exercise.
Pioneering Public Healthcare in Nigeria
Emphasizing the initiative’s origin, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. (Mrs.) Kemi Ogunyemi, noted that the MNCAH+N Week was originally conceived by Lagos State before its national adoption by the National Council on Health in 2010.
She stated that while the primary target groups include under-five children, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and adolescents, preventive health services including screenings for tuberculosis, HIV, and counseling on hygiene, drug abuse, and gender-based violence are also fully available to men.
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