Aregbesola urges mothers to protect children against killer diseases

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

Mothers have been urged to protect their children from preventable killer disease by taking advantage of government qualitative health care policy and inoculate them at appropriate time.

The call was made by the wife of Osun State Governor, Mrs Sherifat Aregbesola while flagging-off the second phase of this year’s maternal, newborn and child health week at Ipetumodu town hall in Ife-North Local Government Area.

According to her, we cannot afford to fail our children at a crucial time like this. All parents and guarding must sacrifice time, energy and go extra mile to ensure the wellbeing of the children.

She appealed to mothers to endeavour to make their children, who are the primary target for the programme, available to benefit from it.

She reminded the gathering that one of the six points’ integral action plan of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s administration would restore healthy living to the people, especially women and children.

The administration, according to her, has shown the political will to deliver on its promises through procurement and distribution of drugs, to be given free to expectant and nursing mothers, to medical centres in the state and free distribution of eye glasses (Jigi Omoluabi) to people earlier in the year.

The first lady also assured organisations that partnered with the state government on the success of the programme, saying the administration would not renege in its pledge to improve the lots of the teeming populace of the state.

She then called on wives of local government chairmen in the state to support her call for increased support for the welfare of women and children across the state.

"I appeal to government at various levels to increase their support and political commitment towards health sector. This is the most fertile ground to sow your seed because the beneficiaries are the helpless and God would reward you abundantly", she pleaded.

In her keynote address, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Temitope Ilori disclosed that though maternal mortality rate is low in the state, she stressed that the state would not relent in its efforts at eliminating the scourge totally.

"The current mortality rate in the state is 165 per 100,000 lives delivery, while under five mortality rate is 113 per 1000 live births, the rate is among the lowest in the country. This is still unacceptable because no woman should die because she wants to bring another person to life and because every life is sacred", she added.

Dr Ilori further said that the reason for bringing the programme to Ife-North is to surpass the past achievement of the programme, saying the council area has been lagging behind others in the state in previous programmes.

She lauded partnering organisation for giving mothers and children in the state the opportunity to improve their health status.


The event after the flag-off is to be followed by a week-long activities including administering multi-vitamins supplement and distribution of hygienic kits to expectant women and nursing mothers across the council area.

http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/health/26298-aregbesola-urges-mothers-to-protect-children-against-killer-diseases.html