BY CHRISTIAN EZE
DELTA State Government has ascertained her determination to reduce maternal, neonatal mortality rate in the state with provision of all necessary facilities that will adequately address the ailing health challenges seen among expecting mothers at delivery period so as to ensure the safety of the mother and child at such a very crucial time.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme said this, yesterday, while speaking at the closing ceremony of the five-day Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiatives (MAMII) project at the Health Center in Ashaka, Ndokwa East Local Government Area, Delta State where the programme was concluded.
The Commissioner, in his address told the people that Delta State Government has aligned with the MAMII initiative of ensuring the reduction of mortality rate in the State as the preservation of life is key to the present administration’s agenda and would do everything humanly possible to see that the maternal mortality rate becomes a thing of the past in.
He disclosed that the State Government has made it clear that pregnant women and children within five years bracket are treated at no cost in the hospitals in the state and warned that management of medical facilities who charge expectant mothers and children for any payment would be decisively dealt with as the State would not condole any of such persons and personalities who would want to treat such serious affairs with kid gloves.
He observed that some persons have been caught flouting government’s directives in the administration of medical treatments and they were equally made to face the music and anyone found tasking pregnant women and children before administering treatment or after, would not be spared of the consequences as already outlined.
The Commissioner said that five Local Government Areas have been counted among the seriously affected Areas in the State and the Governor has directed that efforts must be put in place to ensure that they are reduced to the lo2est level and possibly eliminate such treats completely in the State as it is not a good thing to accommodate among the loving people of Delta.
The representative of the Minister of Health Dr. Ovuora said the MAMII project originated from the drive of the Minister of Health Dr…..to reduce the high mortality rate of Nigerians as recorded in global record to be very high and he was given the tenure to proffer solutions to the poor situation and it was agreed that many of the poor records have been due to poor financial standing which obviously led to the poor administration of medical attentions to the affected individuals and it was resolved that such persons would be properly administered to as they have made the treatment the responsibility of the government of the day, which explains MAMII’s establishment as the unit of the medical group that have to galvanize the reduction of the mortality rate across the country
Dr John Ovuoraye, a Director in the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare who represented the Minister said that the commitment of the Federal Government to supporting state governments in reducing the high rate of maternal and neonatal mortality in the various states is very encouraging as it is helping the nation building process in safe delivery of women in the various hospitals.
Doctor Ovuoraye hinted that 172 Local Government Areas across thirty three states had been identified as high risk areas with prevalence of maternal and neonatal deaths including in Delta State namely; Ndokwa East, Ughelli North, Aniocha North, Udu and Sapele.
He stated that with the support of President Bola Tinubu, MAMII Project has received the needed attention added with the aid of development partners such as USAID, WHO, UNICEF and others.
A Sexual and Reproductive Health Specialist and Representative of the Sector, Dr Tosin Ilesanmi appreciated the efforts of the Delta State Government for taking bold steps towards transforming maternal and child health and ensuring that no woman dies while giving birth.
Pregnant women at the event, commended the initiative to combat maternal and neonatal deaths, and promised to cooperate with the state and federal government to make it achievable
State taskforce to monitor effective implementation of the MAMII Project Action Plan in the state was inaugurated by the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme who charged them to be very responsible to their duties in ensuring full compliance to the effective implementation of the objective.
