Expert Urges Expectant Mothers to Prioritize Hygiene as 150 Receive Wash Kits in Adamawa

YOLA —By Ojoma Yusuf,Yola p

Over 150 expectant mothers in Jambutu community of Adamawa State have received hygiene kits and health education during an outreach organized by the Adamawa State Primary Health Care Development Agency (ADSPHCDA) in collaboration with journalist Ojoma Yusuf.

The sensitization programme, held at Jambutu Primary Health Care Centre, focused on personal hygiene, proper nutrition, and exclusive breastfeeding within the critical first 1,000 days of a child’s life.

Addressing participants, Assistant Director of Maternal and Child Health at ADSPHCDA, Elvina Dauda, emphasized the importance of hygiene and regular antenatal and postnatal care. She urged pregnant women not to take the early stages of a child’s life lightly, noting that proper care during this period is crucial to securing the child’s future.

Dauda advised the women to prioritize cleanliness and adhere strictly to medical guidance throughout pregnancy and after childbirth.

Also speaking, the Officer-in-Charge of Jambutu Primary Health Care Centre, Semira Ismaila, encouraged the expectant mothers to maintain healthy eating habits and drink plenty of water to support the development of their unborn children.

In an interview, the convener of the programme, Ojoma Yusuf, said the initiative was inspired by her participation in a UNICEF training workshop, which exposed her to the importance of maternal and child health education. She explained that her passion for supporting vulnerable groups motivated her to organize the outreach.

Yusuf noted that partnering with the Jambutu PHC was aimed at promoting awareness and ensuring safer outcomes for mothers and their children, particularly during the first 1,000 days, a period she described as critical in shaping a child’s future.

Some beneficiaries expressed gratitude for the initiative, describing it as the first time a journalist had engaged them directly on health education. They commended both the organizer and the health centre for the impactful collaboration and appreciated the distribution of hygiene materials.

The event concluded with the distribution of wash kits to the participants, reinforcing the campaign’s message on the importance of hygiene in maternal and child health. By