PRESS RELEASE
Date: Wednesday, 22 July 2026
AJEROMI-IFELODUN FLAGS OFF 2026 MATERNAL, NEWBORN, CHILD & ADOLESCENT HEALTH WEEK, URGES RESIDENTS TO EMBRACE FREE HEALTHCARE SERVICES
In furtherance of its unwavering commitment to improving healthcare delivery and safeguarding the wellbeing of women, children and families, the Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government today officially flagged off the 2026 Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (MNCAH) Week at the Council Secretariat.
The ceremony, proudly sponsored by the Executive Chairman of Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government, Hon. Olalekan Olu Akindipe, and held in support of the laudable maternal and child health initiative championed by the First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. Ibijoke Claudiana Sanwo-Olu, was performed at the local government level by the Chairperson of Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government, Mrs. Bolanle Akindipe.
Addressing community leaders, traditional rulers, religious leaders, stakeholders, fathers, mothers and residents, Mrs. Akindipe emphasized the importance of quality maternal and child healthcare, urging families to ensure that pregnant women attend antenatal clinics regularly, nursing mothers keep postnatal appointments, newborns receive routine immunisation, and every child is duly registered for birth certification. She also administered vaccines to eligible children during the ceremony.
She reaffirmed that all services provided during the 2026 MNCAH Week are completely free of charge, underscoring the administration’s commitment to ensuring equitable access to quality healthcare for every resident.
The week-long programme offers a wide range of essential healthcare services, including HIV Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT), malaria testing, distribution of Long-Lasting Insecticide-Treated Nets (LLINs) to first-time pregnant women attending antenatal clinics, nutritional screening for children, growth monitoring, family planning services, routine immunisation and other preventive healthcare interventions.
The Executive Chairman, Hon. Akindipe, also provided the necessary logistical and operational support to create an enabling environment for healthcare workers to effectively deliver these critical services across the local government.
The Vice Chairman of Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government, Hon. Bola Ugbo-Anite, actively participated in the flag-off by presenting gifts to nursing mothers, and distributing both female and male condoms as part of efforts to promote responsible family planning and reproductive health.
She called on fathers and husbands to play more active roles in supporting pregnant women before, during and after pregnancy, stressing that shared responsibility remains essential to achieving safer pregnancies and healthier families.
In his remarks, the Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Japhet Ologbogi, encouraged expectant mothers to seek the services of skilled birth attendants available at Primary Health Centres, General Hospitals and accredited private hospitals. According to him, skilled birth attendance remains one of the most effective strategies for reducing maternal and neonatal mortality while advancing the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3) on good health and well-being.
Dr. Ologbogi further urged parents and caregivers to ensure that all children under the age of five receive routine immunisation at Primary Health Centres, noting that vaccination remains one of the most effective ways of preventing vaccine-preventable diseases and avoidable childhood deaths.
He expressed profound appreciation to the Executive Chairman, Hon. Olalekan Olu Akindipe, the Council Management led by the Council Manager, Mr. Salam Adeyemi, and all development partners for their continuous support towards strengthening the healthcare system within Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government.
The flag-off ceremony was well attended by the Leader of the 7th Legislative House of Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government, Hon. Samson Olayinka, who led members of the Legislative Council to the event. Also in attendance were the Council Manager, Mr. Salam Adeyemi, who led the Heads of Departments (HODs) across the Council, Supervisors of the Local Government, particularly the Supervisor for Health, Hon. Kehinde Arogundade, management staff, healthcare professionals, development partners, community leaders, religious leaders, market representatives and other critical stakeholders.
Residents are encouraged to take full advantage of the ongoing 2026 Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health Week by visiting any Primary Health Centre within the Local Government to access these life-saving healthcare services at no cost.
The 2026 MNCAH Week will conclude on Friday, 24 July 2026.
Signed:
Daniel Sylva Daniel
Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Chairman
Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government.
