Wife of the Ondo State Governor, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, on Tuesday met with wives of traditional rulers (oloris) across the Ondo Central Senatorial District on the need to support, promote and champion efforts towards the improvement of Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent + Nutrition (RMNCAH + N) in their various communities.
Addressing the gathering at its maiden meeting held at the Babafunke Ajasin Hall, Ondo State Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs Akeredolu expressed optimism that with collective efforts on the part of all stakeholders, the appalling statistics in regards to reproductive, maternal health care, infant mortality, nutrition among others will take a leap for the better.
She stated that Olori Connection is an intervention programme put together in response to the deep concerns expressed by the Wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, on women, their health and their children.
“It gladdens my heart to stand before this gathering to speak about issues I am passionate about as a mother and a woman with a sense of nationhood – the health of our women and our children in Ondo State. Children are not just the heritage of the Lord but also the pride of the nation and tomorrow’s leader.
“Mothers do not just build nations but critically, they also nurture them. There is perhaps nothing more fulfilling than this sacred task of raising children and by extension, building nations.
“This meeting, Olori Connection, is an intervention programme put together in response to a joint commitment signed by wives of state governors across the country to do their best to improve the appalling statistics in regards of maternal healthcare, infant mortality, nutrition among others.
“Mrs. Buhari wanted us to improve the indices regarding maternal healthcare, infant health care, nutrition among others. We were made to sign undertaking which we wholeheartedly signed”, she stressed while commending all stakeholders most especially wives of local government chairmen, women leader, traditional and religious head for their commitment towards healthcare services at the grassroots.
In his analysis of RMNCAH + N, Executive Secretary, Ondo State Primary Health Care Development Board (OSPHCDB), Dr. Francis Akanbiemu, explained reasons why women must take advantage of health weeks that comes up twice in a year as it is packaged to address various issues and complications that might arise from reproductive, maternal, child and adolescent health.
Dr. Akanbiemu also used the opportunity to charge mothers on the need to maintain healthy nutrition for their family.
In his lecture, Director, Ondo State National Population Commission, Mr. Isaac Oluyemi, while explaining the importance of registration of birth stressed that parents should endeavour to register the birth of their children before they clock age 18 as birth registered with the National Population Commission is widely accepted even for immigration purposes.
He also commended the governor’s wife for the initiative to involve Oloris in the process of data collection for improved healthcare delivery in Ondo State while stressing that registration of birth is free nationwide.
