Fashola, LG boss, others point way to maternal, child mortality reduction

Although the government at all levels in Nigeria is waging a fierce war against maternal and child mortality, there is still more room for improvement in that regard. That was the view of stakeholders recently at the flag-off of the maternal and child mortality reduction programme for Lagos West II Senatorial District held at the secretariat of Amuwo Odofin Government Area.

In her keynote address, Abimbola Fashola, wife of the Lagos State governor, said information was key to reducing maternal and child deaths in the state. Fashola, who stressed the need for women, particularly at the grassroots to be well informed about pregnancy, child birth, and after delivery, posited that maternal and child deaths are preventable only if women are well informed.

The First Lady of Lagos State averred that while it is the responsibility of government to provide the needed health facilities and infrastructure, the desired objective of reducing maternal and child deaths will not be achieved if pregnant women and nursing mothers do not patronise and use the facilities provided for them as a result of lack of awareness, hence the importance of the town hall meeting.

“We all have a role to play in spreading the message and to encourage women within our households and communities to imbibe the habit of patronising government health facilities for all our healthcare needs. These facilities belong to all of us.

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“I am pleading with you, please, use them to protect the lives of our children and ensure that no woman should lose her life in the process of childbirth. It is very important that we eat healthy and live healthy. We must ensure that our environment is always clean inside and outside,” she said.

She expressed optimism that the town hall meeting would result in significant reduction of maternal and infant mortality in the senatorial district.

Earlier, Ayodele Adewale, chairman, Amuwo Odofin LG, while delivering his welcome address said his administration has been pursuing a people-oriented health scheme, which has occasioned a huge and impactful transformation of the primary health sector in the LGA.

He listed some of the steps taken by his administration to give primary healthcare a face lift, which include free drugs to the vulnerable age (0-16 & 60 years above), a scheme that has benefited 95,330 people; increasing the number of doctors from one, which the administration met on resumption, to 23; giving free delivery service with a total of 775 babies delivered with zero mortality, and providing a 24-hour ambulance service, amongst others.

Adewale noted that plans are underway to construct a modern Festac PHC, which would be powered by a hybrid energy source that will include solar, generator and PHCN.

In her address, Zainab Adewale, chairperson of Amuwo Odofin LG, stated that though there is marked reduction in maternal and child mortality, there is still more to be done in the area. She decried the poor funding of the health sector by the Federal Government, and urged the government at the centre to show more commitment in the sector.