Ekiti Government Reiterates Commitment To Maternal, Child Health

Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Professor Modupe Adelabu, (R) and Commissioner for Health, Professor Sola Fasubaa (L) at the flag-off ceremony of May, 2013 Maternal and Child Health Care Week held at the School of Nursing, Ado-Ekiti.

Ekiti State government has saiin the development and promotion of child nutrition, family planning, control of infectious diseases and immunization to ensure overall maternal and child health in the state.

The State Deputy Governor, Professor Modupe Adelabu made the statement at the flag-off ceremony of the May 2013 edition of Maternal and Child Health Week, MNCH, held at the auditorium of the School of Nursing, Ado-Ekiti.

She lamented that while effective, low-cost interventions are available, they are not reaching all of the women and babies who need them because in most developing countries, including Nigeria, many women prefer to deliver at home and rarely see a trained healthcare provider before or after the baby`s birth.

Prof Adelabu who explained that the administration of Governor John Kayode Fayemi has put in place a lot of goodies and freebies for Ekiti mothers to enable them have safe births and enjoyable motherhood, urged mothers to patronize the primary and tertiary health facilities across the state which are now well renovated and equipped with required drugs, modern equipments and qualified health personnel to provide necessary health care.

Earlier in his address at the occasion, the state Commissioner for Heath,  Professor Sola Fasubaa explained that the Maternal and Child Health Week is another moment of obedience to the decision of the Governor’s Forum taken in year 2009 to address the rising maternal and child morbidity in Nigeria which was the second largest globally then.

He noted that the exercise has yielded positive result since its commencement as most biological and neonatal health issues no longer lead to death especially among women who patronize health facilities where skilled birth attendants are available to attend to them.

While appealing to all churches with Faith Maternity Homes and Traditional Birth Attendants to register with the Ministry of Health, Prof Fasubaa advised mothers to patronize acceptable health care facilities where they can have unhindered access to safe antenatal care and safe delivery.

The Health Commissioner commended Governor Fayemi for making hospitals and primary health care facilities friendly by rehabilitating all general hospitals and primary health care centers  including the maternity, provision of drugs and other consumables as well as recruiting qualified health personnel.

He also acknowledged the immeasurable contribution of international and national partners such as WHO, UNESCO, GAVI, NPHCDA, etc. while expressing the hope that Ekiti state will continue to enjoy their cooperation and support in the future.

Last modified: May 25, 2013