Eniola Yekini
Oore of Otun Ekiti and Chairman, Moba Traditional Council of Traditional Rulers, Ekiti State, His Royal Majesty, Oba Adekunle Adeayo Adeagbo has reaffirmed the commitment of traditional rulers across Southern Nigeria to supporting government efforts to reduce maternal and newborn mortality.
Oba Adeagbo spoke at the National Flag -Off of Incentives for Maternal and Newborn Care with the theme: “Health is Wealth… A Healthy Nation is a Wealthy Nation,” held at the Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja..
Oore represented His Imperial Majesty, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife and Permanent Chairman, Southern Nigeria Traditional Rulers Council and also attended in his capacity as Coordinator, Southwest, Southern Nigeria Traditional Rulers Committee on Primary Health Care, Abuja.
The high-level event was flagged off by Her Excellency, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Speaking at the event, the prominent Ekiti monarch said:
“Our mothers and children are the foundation of our nation. As traditional rulers, we are closest to the people at the grassroots. We will use our palaces, our voices, and our influence to ensure every pregnant woman accesses quality antenatal care and every newborn gets the best start in life.”
The Oore emphasized that the incentives being rolled out would encourage more women to utilize primary health care centers and give birth with skilled attendants.
He pledged that under his coordination for the Southwest, the traditional rulers will mobilize, sensitize, and monitor the implementation of the program across communities in the region, while describing the initiative as timely and life-saving.
In his remarks, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate commended the role of traditional rulers in health advocacy, noting that their involvement is critical to achieving universal health coverage.
The National Incentive Program is designed to increase utilization of maternal and newborn care servicesvat PHCs nationwide,
reduce maternal and newborn deaths through early booking, skilled delivery, and postnatal care, as well as to reward compliance with health-seeking behavior through government-supported incentives.
Dignitaries present at the event are top government officials and stakeholders, Traditional Rulers, Development Partners, and Other Distinguished Guests.