Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, on Tuesday commenced the distribution of 1,000 pregnancy kits to expectant mothers under the state government’s Ibi Irorun Safe Delivery Initiative.
The initiative is aimed at promoting safer childbirth and reducing the financial burden of delivery on pregnant women and their families.
Speaking during the launch of the initiative at the Basic Healthcare Centre, Arakale, Akure, the governor said the programme was part of his administration’s commitment to improving healthcare delivery and ensuring that residents had access to quality and affordable medical services.
Represented by his Special Adviser on Health, Prof. Simidele Odimayo, the governor disclosed that 60 other primary healthcare centres were undergoing revitalisation, while the government had continued to support health workers in the state to enhance service delivery.
He also disclosed that more than 300,000 residents had been enrolled in the state health insurance scheme, while more than 102 primary healthcare centres had been completed and equipped.
He said, “Our administration has also completed arrangements for the provision of a magnetic resonance imaging machine, CT scan equipment, theatre suites and ophthalmic equipment at the teaching hospital level.
“The Ibi Irorun initiative is an icing on the cake because the pregnancy kits would complement the state government’s existing free healthcare services for pregnant women.”
Earlier, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Dr Bosede Osamaye, said the initiative was designed to provide expectant mothers with essential items needed for safe and comfortable delivery.
She stated that the first phase would involve the distribution of 1,000 kits, each containing 13 hospital delivery items approved by the governor.
“Today, the state has started the distribution of 1,000 pregnancy kits in the first phase, tagged ‘Ibi Irorun Safe Delivery Items’, which contained 13 hospital delivery items as approved by the governor.
“Our pregnant women are grateful because this will go a long way in removing burdens from their husbands and from them,” she said.
Osamaye commended the governor’s wife, Oluwaseun Aiyedatiwa, for her advocacy for free healthcare services for pregnant women in the state.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Ondo State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Francis Akanbiemu, said the kits would make childbirth easier and reduce the financial burden on pregnant women and their families.
Akanbiemu explained that beneficiaries would only need to take the kits to their health facilities when they were due for delivery.
“Everything needed for delivery is there, including wrappers, gloves and other essential items. They do not need to take anything else to the hospital,” he said.
