The United Nations Children’s Fund has partnered with the Cross River State Government to strengthen childcare practices and promote improved family health services across communities in the state.
The initiative, anchored on Social and Behavioural Change (SBC), was inaugurated in Akim Akim community, Odukpani Local Government Area, with stakeholders emphasising the need for sustained community participation to improve maternal and child health outcomes.
Speaking at the event on Wednesday, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Anthony Okon, commended UNICEF for its commitment to the programme despite funding constraints, describing the intervention as critical to shaping positive health behaviours.
Represented by a Programme Officer in the ministry, Nakanda Iyadim, Okon urged families and communities to embrace key health practices, including routine immunisation, antenatal care, birth registration, exclusive breastfeeding and proper complementary feeding.
“The importance of social and behavioural change cannot be overemphasised. Communities must take ownership of these health initiatives to ensure healthier children and a stronger society,” he said.
In her remarks, a representative of UNICEF, Blessing Ebere-Chukwu, stressed that community involvement remained central to the success of the programme, urging stakeholders to actively promote healthy practices at the grassroots.
Also speaking, the Director of the National Orientation Agency in the state, John Asanye, highlighted the importance of birth registration, noting that every child must have a legal identity.
Represented by the Deputy Director, Juliana Atialikong, he said officials of the National Population Commission were on ground to facilitate the registration process, while encouraging women to attend antenatal clinics regularly.
A community leader, Emmanuel Akpakpan, lauded both UNICEF and the state government for selecting the community, noting that the intervention had already begun to improve the wellbeing of women and children.
During a health talk, a representative of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Ogar Winifred, advised mothers to ensure their children receive Vitamin A supplements and maintain proper hygiene and breastfeeding practices.
The event featured the presentation of awards to children with birth certificates and mothers who had completed routine immunisation schedules, underscoring the programme’s focus on rewarding positive health behaviours.
Our correspondent understands that the SBC programme has so far been implemented in 10 communities, with plans underway to expand its reach across the state to ensure sustainable improvements in childcare and family health.
