DELTA State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa and his Bayelsa State counterpart, Hon. Seriake Dickson have called for more efforts in curbing infant mortality and morbidity rate in the country.
Both spoke at the recent launching of Bayelsa State Safe Motherhood Scheme in Yenogoa, the state capital.
Welcoming the guests, Governor Dickson stressed the importance of the launch of the Safe Motherhood Scheme for the health of mothers and their children.
He noted that, “a number of the causes of death that we attribute to all sorts of things are attributable to lack of knowledge, we need to enlighten our people; we are giving N3, 000 allowance for every pregnant woman in Bayelsa State but, it is compulsory you (pregnant woman) have to register in a recognised medical centre; once test confirms that you are pregnant, you are entitled to N3, 000 maintenance allowance every month.”
The governor however, stressed that antenatal attendance at the healthcare provider by the pregnant women would determine who gets the N3, 000, insisting, “We value your safety and that of your unborn child.”
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Dickson used the opportunity to commend his Delta state counterpart and special guest at the occasion governor Okowa, for his excellent work in the Delta State health sector.
He said: “The punishment for doing well is more work and all of us are joining the good people of Delta State to say, you (Governor Okowa) will work for the people of Delta State for another four years.”
In his own speech governor Okowa, also commended his host for the Safe Motherhood Scheme initiative, noting, “the programme we are launching today is a very laudable programme for the fact that the pregnant women are exposed to the state health insurance scheme and will be paid; this is very noble. The narrative about Nigeria when it comes to mortality rate is not very good.”
Okowa called on the Federal Government to release funds for the full implementation of the National Health Act saying such would enable state governments to release their counterpart funds for health facilities to easily accessible to the people.
He also advocated for proper birth spacing among women, stating, ” there is need to have birth spacing, it is important for the health of the woman.”
Chairman of the occasion, Kabiru Turaki, former Minister of Special Duties, commended governor Dickson for developing critical infrastructure in the state, adding that he has restored the confidence of the people of Bayelsa State in governance.
