ASABA/Nigeria: Delta State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (DSPHCDA) has begun preparation for the 2018 Maternal Neonatal Tetanus Elimination (MNTE) campaign with the training of trainers meeting.
Addressing participants drawn from the Local Immunization Officers, Cold Chain Officers, Reproductive Health Officers and Health Education Officers, Dr Okobah Isioma, Chairman DSPHCDA enjoined the participants to ensure that the state eliminate Tetanus.
Dr Okobah disclosed that Nigeria was among the fourteen countries of the world to attain the elimination of Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus targeted for 2020 with less than 1 case in 1000 live births.
Whilst enjoining health workers to imbibe cleanliness as a strategy to eliminate Tetanus as Tetanus increases mortality rate, Dr Okobah said that Tetanus was one of the six childhood killer diseases which occur through infection of the unhealed umbilical stump.
She call on mother’s to embrace hospital delivery as Maternal and Neonatal deaths could be prevented by hygienic delivery and cord care practices.
The Chairman of DSPHCDA said the campaign which would begin from 18th to 22nd of October 2018 is targeted at elimination of MNT with the immunization of women of child bearing age -15 to 49 years with Tetanus Toxoid vaccines.
