Giving birth to twins or triplets is no longer a source of worry to concerned families in Ekiti State as wife of the Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, has promised government’s continued support to lessen the burden associated with such births.
She restated the promise during the presentation of cash and food items to multiple families across the state at a ceremony held in Ado-Ekiti.
Over 160 multiple birth mothers drawn from the sixteen local government areas of the state had benefitted from the largesse of government during when more than N5million was disbursed through the Multiple Birth Trust Fund initiated by Erelu Bisi Fayemi and launched on June 9, 2011.
It will be recalled that over one hundred of such mothers benefitted from the fund at the maiden disbursement last year to reduce the burden of catering for the peculiar births.
Disbursing the gifts, Erelu Fayemi said the idea behind the establishment of the trust fund was to ensure that parents with multiple births were adequately supported by government.
The Governor’s wife added that the fund aimed to reduce the burden on families of multiple birth children by investing in their education and health.
Lamenting the rate at which multiple birth children die after birth, she promised that expectant mothers would henceforth have better access to good health care.
She promised to do everything possible within the available resources of the state to reduce child mortality and improve maternal health care during and after childbirth.
She also charged pregnant women to patronise government hospitals and access the quality health facilities that government had provided in such places.
The First Lady said,
“I am happy to be here today to do another round of disbursement from the multiple birth trust fund of Ekiti State, which is the first of its kind.
The reason why we have this trust fund is to support the families of multiple births particularly those that find it difficult to deal with having extra additions to their families.”
Erelu Fayemi charged the beneficiaries to embrace space their children and to embrace family planning.
She added, “I pray that God Almighty will preserve and protect these children and that they will continue to be source of joy to their parents.”
In her welcome address, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Social Development and Gender Empowerment, Mrs Fola Richie-Adewusi reiterated the commitment of the Governor Kayode Fayemi-led administration to the reduction of maternal and child mortality in the state.
The commissioner said the fund was aimed at empowering Ekiti women to enable them to take care of their children and enhance their development.
She added that the product support given to the mothers was to serve as diet supplement to enhance the proper growth and development of their babies who she said were future leaders of the state and the nation.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs Modupe Ayegbusi thanked the state government for its support for the less-privileged in the society.
Also at the ceremony were wife of the Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Mrs Chioma Omirin; Wife of Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Modupe Owolabi; market men and women and women leaders from the sixteen local government area of the state.
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Last modified: August 2, 2011