EDO.. Esan South East local government chairman, Hon Victor Emuakhagbon, has declared that his administration is determined to put an end to infant and maternal mortality.
Emuakhagbon made the statement on Friday while flagging off the 2018 maternal and newborn child health week in Ubiaja, headquarters of the local government.
The council boss who wondered why mothers still need to be prodded before taking actions geared towards saving their own lives and those of their newborn babies, advised that all information concerning child and maternal mortality should be incorporated in must-imbibed lessons for intending couples. The process, he reasoned, will make them quickly understand the need to practice lessons meant for avoiding preventable mortality particularly as what they need to do is without any financial cost on their part.
“It is important parents and intending couples, particularly would-be mothers, learn these lessons long before giving birth. They need to learn and understand that basic child protection actions are as important as child bearing itself. So learnt and understood, they will take advantage of all measures available to protect themselves and their children from preventable diseases,” the council boss explained before administering vitamin A and other antigens on children at the event.
Emuakhagbon also urged mothers to inculcate the habit of not only washing their hands before handling children food materials but also ensure that they register the birth of their children and deworm them appropriately.
The event, sponsored by the council, in collaboration with donor agencies, including UNICEF, WHO, National Primary Health Care Development, Edo state government and Non Governmental Organizations, NGOs, is meant to sensitize parents, mothers in particular, on the need to avail themselves of the opportunity to make their children available for the program.
The one week program, tagged 1st Round of 2018 Maternal Newborn Child Health Week Campaign, teed off in the local government area on Friday, 16 November.
Meanwhile, Emiakhagbon was in Ohordua, ward 4 of the local government area, to inspect on-going works on the rehabilitation of the town’s primary health care centre. While inspecting the project, he urged the contractors to expedite action on its timely completion.
Emuakhagbon also called on the people to ensure that the facility is well secured from vandalism.
“I have told you that the provision of health and education facilities is primary to me. I just want to appeal to the contractors to ensure that they meet completion date and I also ask that Ohordua should protect the facility from being vandalized,” he appealed.
