The Ondo State Government has stepped up efforts to reduce maternal and infant deaths with the distribution of free pregnancy kits to expectant mothers under its Ibi-lrorun Safe Delivery Sensitisation Initiative.
The intervention, according to the government, is designed to ease the burden of childbirth for pregnant women, particularly those from vulnerable households, while encouraging regular antenatal care and delivery under the supervision of qualified health professionals.
Speaking at the sensitisation programme and distribution of the kits at the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital, Ondo, the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Prof. Michael Gbala, who represented Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, said the administration was determined to ensure that pregnancy did not become a cause of death for women in the state.
“Pregnancy should never be a death sentence,” Gbala said, stressing that the ultimate goal was to have healthy mothers and babies at the end of every pregnancy.
He said the distribution of the kits formed part of the state government's broader interventions in maternal healthcare, adding that the government was investing in health infrastructure, the welfare of medical personnel and improved healthcare services.
Gbala also claimed that the state's investment in the health sector had helped reduce the migration of medical professionals, with doctors and nurses from neighbouring states such as Osun, Ekiti and Ogun now coming to Ondo to work.
The CMD disclosed that pregnant women requiring Caesarean sections at government-owned health facilities could access the procedure free of charge under the state's intervention.
He urged expectant mothers to make use of primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities rather than patronising unqualified birth attendants.
Gbala particularly warned pregnant women against ignoring symptoms associated with pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, identifying hypertension during pregnancy as a major contributor to maternal deaths.
According to him, symptoms such as severe headaches, blurred or double vision, difficulty breathing and upper abdominal pain should not be ignored.
He advised women experiencing such symptoms to seek immediate medical attention and cautioned against self-medication, noting that early detection and appropriate treatment could prevent complications.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Dr Seun Osamaye, said the Ibi-lrorun initiative was created to combine health education with practical support for pregnant women.
She said the free kits contained essential items required for hospital delivery and warned beneficiaries against selling them.
The commissioner said the initiative was also intended to reinforce the importance of antenatal care and ensure that expectant mothers had access to basic resources needed for childbirth.
She added that maternal health remained a priority for the Aiyedatiwa administration because of the specific healthcare needs associated with pregnancy.
The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Kayode Kolawole, described the intervention as a way of reducing the financial pressure associated with childbirth, particularly for women from low-income households.
He urged beneficiaries to take the kits to their chosen government hospital when they go into labour, noting that the items provided were intended to support their delivery.
The sensitisation programme had earlier been held at the Primary Comprehensive Health Centre, Arakale, Akure, where more than 500 pregnant women benefited from the pregnancy kits and awareness activities.
A member of the Ondo State Hospitals Management Board, Nurse Arinola Adamolekun, advised expectant mothers to pay attention to nutrition, hygiene, rest and regular physical activity during pregnancy.
She encouraged pregnant women to maintain balanced diets and consume affordable protein sources while also attending antenatal clinics as scheduled.
Adamolekun further urged expectant mothers to deliver in recognised healthcare facilities where trained medical personnel are available to respond to complications.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs Ogundayomi Ayomiposi expressed appreciation to Governor Aiyedatiwa and his wife, Esther Oluwaseun Aiyedatiwa, for the support.
She also commended the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development and officials of the ministry for implementing the programme.
For the Ondo State Government, the Ibi-lrorun initiative represents another attempt to move maternal healthcare beyond awareness by putting practical resources directly in the hands of pregnant women.
The larger challenge, however, remains ensuring that women consistently use antenatal services, recognise pregnancy complications early and have access to skilled healthcare professionals when they need them.