The Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa has declared that no woman should lose her life while giving birth, unveiling intensified interventions aimed at reducing maternal and infant mortality and making childbirth safer for women across the state.
The governor said the measures include free Caesarean sections in government-owned health facilities for women who require the procedure, regular antenatal care and the distribution of free delivery kits to pregnant women, particularly those from vulnerable households.
The Chief Medical Director, University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital, Ondo, Prof. Michael Gbala, who represented Aiyedatiwa, disclosed this at the ‘Ibi-Irorun’ Safe Delivery Sensitisation Initiative and distribution of free pregnancy kits to expectant mothers at the hospital.
Gbala said the initiative was part of the administration’s broader investment in maternal healthcare, stressing that the ultimate objective was to ensure that women and their babies survive pregnancy and childbirth in good health.
“Pregnancy should never be a death sentence. What we want to have are healthy mothers and healthy babies. At the end of pregnancy, we want every pregnant woman to be happy for having her safe baby in her hands,” he said.
“That is why the government is bringing this initiative to support maternal care and facilitate safe delivery,” the CMD added, urging pregnant women to take advantage of public healthcare facilities and attend antenatal clinics regularly.
According to him, the government has also invested in healthcare infrastructure, improved the welfare of health workers and strengthened medical services, developments which he said had helped reverse the migration of medical personnel from Ondo State.
Gbala noted that the improved working environment had begun attracting doctors and nurses from neighbouring states, including Osun, Ekiti and Ogun, to work in Ondo, describing the development as evidence of the administration’s commitment to strengthening the state’s health system.
He further disclosed that pregnant women requiring Caesarean sections at government-owned facilities could access the procedure free of charge under the state government’s intervention, while advising expectant mothers to shun unqualified birth attendants and patronise primary, secondary and tertiary health facilities.
The CMD also raised concern over complications arising from hypertension in pregnancy, warning women not to ignore symptoms associated with pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. He specifically advised women experiencing severe headaches, blurred or double vision, difficulty breathing or upper-abdominal pain to seek immediate medical attention.
He cautioned against self-medication, stressing that “early detection and proper treatment” could prevent complications and save lives.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Dr Seun Osamaye, said the ‘Ibi-Irorun’ initiative was designed not only to sensitise pregnant women on safe motherhood but also to provide essential materials required for hospital delivery free of charge.
“Our Governor, His Excellency, Dr Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has made provisions for these items to be given to our pregnant women free of charge. They must not be sold,” Osamaye said, explaining that the kits were intended to ensure that expectant mothers had the resources required for safe childbirth.
The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Kayode Kolawole, said the intervention would reduce the financial burden associated with childbirth, particularly for women from vulnerable households, urging beneficiaries to take the kits to the hospital when they go into labour. “Everything that you need for your delivery is inside it,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs Ogundayomi Ayomiposi expressed appreciation to Governor Aiyedatiwa and his wife, Esther Oluwaseun Aiyedatiwa, for supporting pregnant women through the initiative. The sensitisation programme had earlier been held at the Primary Comprehensive Health Centre, Arakale, Akure, where more than 500 pregnant women benefited from the free pregnancy kits and sensitisation activities.
Fidelis David
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