Health authorities in the North West Region have launched the first round of the 2026 Mother and Child Health and Nutrition Action Week, with a major focus on improving children's health through Vitamin A supplementation and encouraging families to enroll in the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) programme.
The campaign runs from July 9 to 12 in all 21 health districts of the region and is expected to reach about 270,000 children, representing 95 percent of the target population aged 12 to 59 months.
Speaking during a briefing with the press, Regional Coordinator of the Expanded Programme on Immunization, Dr Asongwe Ignatius, said the exercise is a high-impact public health intervention aimed at reducing child illness and deaths by boosting the immune systems of young children.
He explained that Vitamin A supplementation plays a vital role in protecting children against diseases and improving their overall health. According to him, the campaign will be carried out using the door-to-door strategy to ensure that every eligible child is reached, including those living in remote communities.
During the exercise, each eligible child will receive one red Vitamin A capsule containing 200,000 International Units, which will be administered orally. After receiving the supplement, the child's left little finger will be marked with a black ink, while households visited by health workers will also be marked to prevent duplication.
Dr Asongwe Ignatius called on parents and caregivers to cooperate with vaccination teams by giving verbal consent before the supplement is administered. He stressed that health workers have been instructed to observe strict hygiene practices throughout the campaign to ensure the safety of every child.
He noted that although Vitamin A is safe, a few children may experience mild side effects such as nausea or vomiting. In such cases, he advised that the supplement should not be given a second time if the child vomits after receiving it.
To improve community acceptance, the campaign is using social mobilizers recruited from local communities. These mobilizers are familiar with the families and will help identify eligible children while educating parents on the importance of the exercise.
According to the North West Regional Delegate of Public Health, they have also appealed to vaccinators to respect child protection guidelines. Where a household is occupied only by minors, teams have been instructed to arrange another visit when a responsible adult is present before administering the supplement.
Beyond Vitamin A supplementation, this year's Mother and Child Health and Nutrition Action Week is also being used to promote the government's Universal Health Coverage (UHC) programme. Parents are encouraged to ask health workers about the registration process and the benefits of enrolling their families in the scheme.
Dr Ambe Lionel further highlighted the health benefits of Vitamin A for children. He said the supplement strengthens the immune system, supports healthy growth and development, reduces the severity of common childhood illnesses, lowers the risk of blindness and promotes optimal child growth.
Health authorities have called on parents and caregivers across the North West Region to ensure that every eligible child receives the Vitamin A supplement during the four-day campaign, describing it as a simple but effective intervention that can save lives and improve children's health.
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