The Kwara State Government, North Central Nigeria, has announced its intention to provide free healthcare services to 1.2 million children and pregnant women during the 2026 Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (MNCH) Week.

The initiative underscores the government's commitment to ensuring that MNCH services remain available at no cost at all Primary Health Care facilities throughout the state.

The week-long intervention is scheduled to hold from 8 to 12 June 2026, across the 16 Local Government Areas of the state.

It is aimed at improving the health and nutritional status of women and children through the provision of integrated, high-impact health services.

Addressing a press briefing at the conference room of the Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency (KWSPHCDA), the Executive Secretary of the agency, Prof Nusirat Elelu, stated that the programme will provide a range of free healthcare services for pregnant women, children under five years of age, and eligible nine-year-old girls.

According to her, services to be provided during the exercise include routine immunisation, Vitamin A supplementation, deworming, nutrition screening, growth monitoring, antenatal care services, birth registration, HIV prevention interventions, as well as Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination for eligible girls.

Prof Elelu disclosed that the agency is targeting over one million children under the age of five, about 200,000 pregnant women, and more than 7,000 eligible nine-year-old girls across the state during the exercise.

She noted that adequate preparations have been made to ensure the successful implementation of the programme, including the training of health workers, strengthening of logistics and vaccine distribution systems, community mobilisation activities, and collaboration with traditional, religious, and community leaders.

The Executive Secretary explained that services will be delivered through Primary Health Care centres, outreach posts, community gathering points, markets, palaces, and other designated service delivery locations to ensure that no eligible beneficiary is left behind.

She added that school-based teams will also administer HPV vaccines to eligible girls in schools across the state.

Prof Elelu emphasised that the HPV vaccine is safe, effective, and remains one of the most reliable tools for preventing cervical cancer later in life.

She therefore urged parents and caregivers to ensure that eligible girls receive the vaccine during the exercise.

She commended the administration of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for its continued investment in the health sector, particularly in health infrastructure development, provision of medical equipment, and strengthening of Primary Health Care services across the state.

The Executive Secretary also appreciated the support of development partners, including UNICEF, WHO, the World Bank, Vitamin Angels, and other stakeholders whose contributions continue to enhance healthcare service delivery in Kwara State.

While calling on residents to take full advantage of the exercise, Prof Elelu reassured the public that all services to be provided during the MNCH Week are completely free.

She urged parents, caregivers, and pregnant women to visit the nearest Primary Health Care facility and participate in the exercise to improve the health and wellbeing of mothers and children across the state.