EDO SEEKS STRONGER PARTNERSHIPS TO REDUCE MATERNAL, NEWBORN DEATHS
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By; Sunmola Ganiyat
The Commissioner for Health in Edo State, Cyril Oshiomhole, has called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, development partners and private healthcare providers to tackle maternal and newborn mortality.
Speaking at the seventh anniversary celebration of Med-Vical International and the launch of its School Health Programme and Maternal, Small and Sick Newborn Infants Initiative, Oshiomhole stressed that no woman should lose her life while giving birth.
He said the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo has prioritised maternal and child healthcare through the strengthening of primary healthcare centres, renovation of health facilities and expansion of access to quality medical services across the state.
According to the commissioner, the wellbeing of mothers and children remains critical to the development of any society, adding that investments in safe motherhood are investments in future generations.
While acknowledging progress in the health sector, Oshiomhole noted that significant challenges remain and called for urgent action to address them.
He recalled a maternal death recorded years ago following what appeared to be a successful Caesarean section at a hospital in Benin City, saying the incident underscored the need for continuous improvements in healthcare delivery and patient care.
The commissioner emphasised the importance of proper risk assessment for pregnant women, particularly those undergoing Caesarean deliveries, to identify complications such as infections and multiple pregnancies and provide adequate preventive care.
He maintained that every woman who visits a healthcare facility to give birth deserves to return home safely and stressed that government alone cannot solve the problem without meaningful partnerships.
Earlier, Chairman of Med-Vical International, Ehijie Enato, described Nigeria’s maternal and newborn health statistics as alarming, noting that the country records one of the highest newborn mortality rates in Africa and globally.
He said the organisation would continue supporting government efforts through quality healthcare services, training for frontline health workers and community-based interventions aimed at reducing maternal, newborn and child deaths.
Delivering a keynote lecture, George Akpede argued that Nigeria’s major challenge is not the absence of healthcare innovations but the poor implementation of proven interventions.
According to him, many effective and evidence-based solutions already exist and could significantly reduce maternal and infant mortality if consistently applied.
He urged stakeholders to focus on implementing available healthcare strategies effectively rather than concentrating solely on developing new innovations.
The event also featured a call by business leader Jerry Eiyegbenin for governments, development partners and private organisations to support initiatives aimed at improving maternal and child health outcomes.
A major highlight of the ceremony was the launch of the Med-Vical School Health Programme and the Maternal, Small and Sick Newborn Infants Initiative, both designed to enhance maternal, newborn and child healthcare across Nigeria.
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