The Rivers State Primary Health Care Management Board (RSPHCMB) has announced plans to commence the 2026 Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW) across the state from June 8 to June 12, with a range of free healthcare services targeted at women, children, men and families.
According to the board, the exercise is aimed at bringing essential healthcare services closer to residents through Primary Health Care facilities located in communities across Rivers State.
As part of the programme, pregnant women will have access to antenatal registration, free delivery services at designated health facilities, and Tetanus-Diphtheria vaccination.
Women of childbearing age will benefit from cervical cancer screening, free voluntary HIV counselling and testing, as well as Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) services.
The board also disclosed that children between the ages of zero and five years will receive routine immunization services, nutrition screening and support, Vitamin A supplementation, deworming treatment, and diarrhea care, including Oral Rehydration Therapy.
Girls aged nine years will be offered the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine as part of efforts to prevent cervical cancer.
For men, the programme will provide general health check-ups, free malaria testing using Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs), and treatment with Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT) where necessary.
The board further stated that residents will be able to register for the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP) during the week-long exercise.
In addition, daily health education sessions will be conducted at participating health facilities to promote awareness on key health issues and encourage healthy living practices.
The Rivers State Primary Health Care Management Board urged residents to take advantage of the opportunity by visiting the nearest Primary Health Care facility in their communities to access the services.
