Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, has assured that no efforts would be spared in providing effective health interventions to reduce infant mortality rate and boost the care of babies in the state.
The Ekiti First Lady said the state government also attaches importance to measures aimed at ensuring that women of childbearing age and their babies benefit from adequate healthcare delivery in every part of the state.
Dr. Oyebanji gave the assurance at the flag-off ceremony of the Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week in Ekiti State which was organized by Ekiti State Primary Health Care Development Agency in conjunction with Ekiti State Committee on Food and Nutrition.
She explained that the state government’s efforts were clearly demonstrated in the priority given to the health sector by equipping various hospitals and health centres and in the implementation of qualitative programmes across the state.
The First Lady who noted that the programme which is bi-annual would commence on Friday July 28 to Tuesday August 1, this year in all government Health facilities and designated places across all Council Areas.
She said: “During the exercise, deworming tablets and vitamins supplements will be administered on children between ages 6 months to 59 months.
“Pregnant women will have access to HIV screening, medicinal items and other health care commodities. All these interventions are free safe and effective.”
Dr Oyebanji therefore advised caregivers and mothers to avail themselves of the opportunities provided by the Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week in ensuring that their wards and children benefit from the intervention.
In his address, the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Oyebanji Filani, encouraged parents to give priority to the nutrition of children to aid their growth, wellbeing and make them to contribute meaningfully to the society.
Dr. Filani added: “It is not enough that babies should grow, they have to be healthy and well-fed. Nutrition is important, it improves the brain capacity of babies and aids their overall growth.
“There is a clear nexus between health, productivity and economic wellbeing and our government is focused on that from day one. We are also focused on making our babies get the best in terms of nutrition and this forms part of getting a healthy populace.”
In her goodwill message to the occasion, the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Habibat Adubiaro represented by a permanent Secretary, Mrs Olayemi Kayode-Ojo called on stakeholders including, royal fathers, council chairmen, civil society groups among others to sensitize all concerned individuals to participate in the programme.
Also the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget, Economic Planning and Performance Management, Mr Olusesan Alabi explained that the Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week was a demonstration of the commitment of the state government to improve maternal and infant health in the state.
Mr. Alabi, who also doubles as the Chairman of the State Committee on Nutrition, described access to adequate nutrition as the building block to a healthy life said the Week was also a bold statement to tackle malnutrition and stunting among children in the state.
He commended the First Lady for according priority to the welfare of the people of the state especially to issues of the improved health status for women of childbearing age and their babies as part of the health agenda of the Oyebanji administration.
The flag-off was attended by the Head of Service, Mr. Bamidele Agbede; Special Adviser on Budget, Economic Planning and Performance Management, Mr. Oyeniyi Adebayo; the Iyaloja General of Ekiti State, Chief Habibat Ogunjobi; nursing mothers and other stakeholders.