Available statistics today indicate that 54,000 Nigeria
women die yearly of complications arising from complications and child birth.
According to the report, maternal deaths in Nigeria stand at 800 per 100,000.
In addition to this is the fact that 191 children currently
die in every 1000 births – one of the worst child survival rates in the world.
This perhaps explains why Nigeria is also ranked 19th
from the rear among 145 countries with highest infant mortality rates, as 900
in 10,000 children die under age one representing about 10% of the 5.2 million
babes being born annually in the country.
Investigation revealed that four major factors which aid
maternal mortality are severe bleeding, infections, hypertensive disorders and
obstructed labour.
Unfortunately, Ondo state until year 2009 was also a major
shareholder in this ugly scenario as it topped the chart in the south west on
infant and maternal mortality rate.
This is not unconnected with the fact that most women do not
have access to reliable basic health facilities and were left at the mercy of
traditional and unskilled birth attendants as well as quack doctors.
This saddening situation, the caring heart government of Dr Olusegun
Mimiko realized must be urgently dealt with else the state will be in a messier
situation in a few years to come.
This was why government conceptualized the Abiye safe
motherhood under which a resounding success was recorded at Ifedore, the pilot council
area before it replicated in other council areas of the state.
Also as part of the Abiye strategy, Government established a
world class and purposefully built mother and child hospitals at Oke-Aro in the
heart of Akure to Offer exceptional and qualitative services for pregnant
women, nursing mothers and children under five years free of charge.
Available statistics reveal that the hospital in less than
three years has attended to over 60,000 patients, conducted no fewer than
15,000 deliveries with over 2300 through caesarean section.
According to investigations, there has been a 44% increase
in patient load and 14% decrease in maternal mortality rate compared statistics
in 2010 and 2011 making the hospital the only facility in the country offering
free and qualitative services to pregnant women and children under five
irrespective of ethnicity, social status or residence.
Also, the Mother and Child Hospital has become a point of
attraction, even on the global scene and played host to many dignitaries from
across the world, including world acclaimed motivational speaker, Dr Mike
Murdock and Ms Jennifer Cooke from the Centre for strategic and International
Studies, USA who both saluted the foresightedness of the governor at putting in
place such a lifesaving initiative.
The successful story and commitment of government to
replicate the hospital in all the senatorial districts led to the establishment
of another one in Ondo to serve all communities and village within its axis.
The undoubtedly magnificent edifice today was a result of
months of toil, hard labour and constant site visit by the governor, Dr
Olusegun Mimiko and the Commissioner for Health, Dr Dayo Adeyanju.
And the outcome of that purposeful and determined commitment
has given birth to another facility that had even become a tourist haven before
it was commissioned.
The hospital is in tandem with the millennium development
goals 4 and 5 to reduce child mortality by 67% and maternal mortality by 75% in
Ondo state by 2015 as well as run integrated, qualitative, critical and
referral services for pregnant women, nursing mothers and children under five
years old.
The 100 bed facility has an administrative section for about
fourteen offices for the hospital administrators, 50 seater seminar room, health
information management library, six consulting room, four nurses’ stations,
four medical laboratory services, and four patients’ pharmacy services.
The theatre wing comprises a 3 bed well equipped intensive
care unit, central sterilizing and general stores. Children ward with
recreational facilities, theatres, wards among other facilities.
The electricity supply of the hospital is provided by PHCN
and supported with a 250Kva generator and a 120kva UPS inverter.
It was therefore not surprising that the commissioning of
the hospital attracted dignitaries from all work of lives as well as would
beneficiaries who came in their thousands for the historic event in the town.
The Laje road leading leading to the event was jam-packed as
both human and vehicles competed for space while they awaited the man
instrumental to putting Ondo state at the forefront of campaign against infant
and maternal mortality in Africa.
This excitement in the atmosphere was high and the joy of
the people knew no bounds as both traditional and different bands competed for
attention.
Little wonder that on his arrival, the medical doctor turned
politician with a caring heart had trekked miles to the hospital because of the
traffic congestion and acknowledged cheers from the mammoth crowd that had come
to witness the momentous occasion.
The roll call of dignitaries included traditional rulers,
human right activists, members of the diplomatic corps, development partners,
members of the state executive council and politicians.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Dayo Adeyanju commended the
governor for his exemplary leadership and support by the maternal pulse
foundation of his wife, Mrs Olukemi which had greatly given women and children
in the state a sense of belonging.
Dr Adeyanju said the hospital was borne out of the
governor’s commitment to ensure pregnancy is no longer a death sentence in the
state and that the hospital will also be replicated at Ikare and Okitipupa.
The development partners in the likes of UNICEF, WORLD BANK
and the Nigerian Governor’s forum who have already found a viable partner in
Ondo state, advised other states in the country to take a cue form Ondo as to
as best achieve MDGs four and five.
According to Mrs Caroline Akosile from UNICEF, who noted
that Ondo is the only state that is achieving the MDGs and emphasized that her
organization is happy to be partners in progress with the state.
While Dr Oluwole Odutolu from World Bank said health is a
human right and the state is giving it free of charge for its citizens, and
commended the government for putting in place such a world class facility to
prevent loss of pregnant women and children.
On his part, representative of the Nigeria governor’s forum,
Dr Zikirulahi Giwa said all the safe motherhood initiatives of the Ondo State
government including the recently launched ORIREWA has clearly demonstrated
that the state understands how best to effectively deal with infant and
maternal mortality, most especially with the profound results have begun to
roll in for the government.
And for Governor Olusegun Mimiko, his joy today is that the
unwholesome statistics his administration met in 2009 has today changed for the
better.
Governor Mimiko projected that at least 20,000 out of the
30,000 expected annual deliveries in state will be at four mother and hospitals
that will be strategically located around the state come 2015.
He expressed optimism that the facility will surpass
achievements recorded at the hospital in Akure and assured that the government
would support the hospital with the needed manpower and resources to excel.
The governor commissioned the hospital and accompanied by
the dignitaries, also undertook a tour of the facilities with the Commissioner
of Health, Dr Adeyanju and the chief medical director of the hospital, Dr Lawal
Oyeneyin as his guide.
For the people of Ondo and its environs the magical wand of
the Abiye safe motherhood programmer has finally hit the town in grand style.
Congratulations to the pregnant women, nursing mothers and
children under five years old.
By
Samson Omotayo
Press Officer
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