Osun State government commemorated the year 2024 Safe Motherhood Day with a focused initiative to raise awareness and sensitize mothers and pregnant women about common maternal complications contributing to unacceptably high maternal mortality rates.
The state Commissioner for Health, Barrister Jola Akintola,at the occasion, announced that this year’s theme, is ‘Investing in Maternal Health for a Sustainable Future,’ with the slogan ‘Mother Lives, Child Thrives.
At an awareness campaign which held at Igbona Market, Osogbo, Barr. Akintola, who was
Represented by Dr. Akeem Bello, Director of Public Health, highlighted Safe Motherhood Week as an annual event observed every 11th of April with the primary purpose of educating pregnant women about pregnancy complications, the importance of attending Antenatal clinics, and family planning for child spacing post-birth.
Dr. Bello who underscored Safe Motherhood’s primary objective enunciated that it is to prevent or minimize maternal mortality rates.
He urged pregnant women to utilize state hospital Antenatal clinics for free delivery services instead of relying on unqualified practitioners.
The medical practitioner also emphasized the importance of seeking immediate care at state facilities in the event of complications .
He similarly encouraged enrollment in the Osun Health Insurance Scheme (OHIS).
During the event, Mrs. Toyin Adelowokan, Osun State Reproductive Health Coordinator, Mrs. Ololade Abatan, State Program Manager for Family Planning, Mrs. Abiala Ruth from Health Care Finance, and the Iyaloja of Igbona Market Chief,Mrs Abibat Olayiwola collectively educated market women on the significance of Antenatal care and child spacing. They highlighted the disparity between hospital attendance and delivery rates, urging pregnant women to book for Antenatal care at government hospitals by the 16th week of pregnancy and deliver at the same facility to mitigate further complications.
By-Segilola Babalola