Renews Call For Immunization Of Children
Against Killer Diseases
Wife of the Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Bolanle
Ambode, carrying the first baby of the year (2nd left); mother of the first
baby of the year, Mrs. Basirat Adegbesan (left); Commissioner for Health, Dr.
Jide Idris (2nd right) and Special Adviser to the Governor on Primary
HealthCare, Dr. Olufemi Onanuga (right) during the presentation of gifts to the
first baby of the year, born 12:00am, weighs 3.7kg, at the Lagos Island
Maternity Hospital, Lagos.
Wife
of Lagos State Governor, Mrs Bolanle Ambode on Tuesday welcomed the first baby
of the year in the State, while restating her call for pregnant women in the
State to always patronize government health facilities for safe delivery and
also immunize their children against killer diseases.
Mrs
Ambode, who said this at the annual celebration of the first baby of the year
in the State held separately at Shomolu General Hospital, Maternal and Child
Care Centre (MCC), Gbaja, and Lagos Island Maternity Hospital, said it was
important for mothers to give quality attention and priority to the well-being
of their children in the overall interest of the society.
The
first baby 2019 for Lagos State was born at 12am to the family of Mr and Mrs
Adegbesan at Island Maternity, weighing 3.7Kg.
The
wife of the Governor said the huge government expenditure on infant and
maternal health infrastructure, could only be justified by commensurate use of
the modern facilities by the women, their babies and the children.
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She
noted further that government’s efforts in stemming maternal and infant
mortality would be slow in materializing, if expectant mothers did not go to
the centres to use the facilities.
According
to her, “I wish to note that Lagos State Government has continued to strengthen
the health sector with the provision of neonatal care units, equipment and
resources to our State hospitals, to enhance the quality of maternal and child
care services in our State.
“The
workers in the Primary Health Care centres and General Hospitals are committed
and determined to provide quality care, but you have to go there and use the
facilities. Mother and Child Centres are also being located in nearly every
neighbourhood of the State, for excellent infant and maternal health care
delivery.”
Stressing
the need for immunization, she said: “My passionate appeal to mothers,
therefore, is to ensure they complete the full course of immunization for their
children, to prevent childhood killers like measles, diarrhea, pneumonia,
tuberculosis, tetanus and hepatitis, to mention a few. In addition, parents
must avoid the use of contaminated water, malnutrition and poor sanitation, as
they also contribute to childhood mortality.”
The Governor’s
wife also commended the National Population Commission (NPC) for registering
newborns at Lagos hospitals, urging parents to always cooperate with the
agency, for accurate data compilation.
Besides,
she urged expectant mothers to maintain good hygiene and health-promoting
lifestyle in pregnancy, to ensure the well-being of their expected babies.
Also
speaking, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris said as part of efforts to
facilitate access to health care, the State Government recently implemented the
Health Insurance scheme, and urged all residents to take advantage of the
initiative.
“It
is our hope in this New Year, with the implementation of the Lagos State Health
Scheme, more Lagosians will have access to improved services and enjoy the kind
of care they would have been unable to before now.
“With
the exemplary leadership of His Excellency, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, you can be
confident that the State will continue to stimulate the required quality of
health service delivery that is poised to address existing health gaps and even
new health challenges that might emerge in the future,” Idris said.
Also
speaking, wife of the governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC)
for next year’s gubernatorial election in the State, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu
commended Governor Ambode for his commitment and investment in provision of
infrastructure to scale up the health sector.
Ibijoke,
who is the Chief Medical Director of Shomolu General Hospital, said it was on
record that the facility had enjoyed tremendous support from the State
Government, while the Governor recently approved funds to demolish and rebuild
the distressed main building, among others.
At
Shomolu General Hospital, the first baby was delivered by the family of Awofeso
Adara Ojo by 1:47am with a weight of 3.0kg, while at Gbaja MCC, the first baby
was delivered by the family of Amudalat Ojo by 1:58am with a weight of 2kg.
Aside
the gifts given to the first babies, the wife of the Governor also distributed
Special Mummy’s Pack to all the babies at the three hospitals.
