By Khadija Kubau
The Kaduna State Government has flagged off the first phase of the 2026 Integrated Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW) Plus Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination Campaign in Ikara Local Government Area.
The exercise was officially launched at the Primary Health Care Centre, Ikara, by the Deputy Governor, who reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to improving maternal and child health outcomes across the state.
Speaking at the event, the Deputy Governor described the programme as a vital intervention aimed at delivering essential healthcare services to women, children, and adolescent girls, especially those in underserved communities. She noted that the inclusion of the HPV vaccine in the campaign would further strengthen efforts to prevent cervical cancer among young girls.
According to her, the exercise will be implemented across all 255 wards in Kaduna State through more than 1,000 public and private health facilities. The services will be provided free of charge from June 8 to June 12, 2026.
She listed the services to include routine immunization, HPV vaccination for girls aged nine years, nutrition screening, Vitamin A supplementation, deworming, maternal supplements, HIV testing, and treatment of common childhood illnesses.
The Deputy Governor called on community and religious leaders to support mobilisation efforts by encouraging families to participate in the programme, stressing that many maternal and child deaths are still caused by preventable diseases.
She also commended development partners and relevant agencies for their support towards the success of the initiative and formally declared the 2026 MNCH Week Plus HPV Vaccination Campaign open.
The programme is expected to improve access to life-saving health interventions and contribute significantly to reducing maternal and child mortality across Kaduna State.
