Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State commissioned the renovated maternity at Adeoyo Maternity Teaching Hospital, Yemetu, Ibadan, on Wednesday.
The maternity is one of the four wards donated to Oyo State under an MTN Foundation and JNCI partnership with the state government.
Other beneficiaries of the MTNF maternity support project, costing about N78 million, are Ring Road State Specialist Hospital, Ibadan; State Hospital, Oyo; and General Hospital, Igbeti.
Ajimobi held that Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) had become more expedient than ever, in providing health care, education and infrastructure to the people, especially at a time when states grappled with dwindling resources.
Maintaining that provision of health was not free, Ajimobi said the state government was set to implement the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
Chief Medical Director, University College Hospital, Professor Temitope Alonge, who represented the Minster of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, said the Federal Government required support of individuals and organisations to reduce infant and maternal mortality in the country.
Describing maternal mortality as one of the most serious challenges that the country faced, Adewole charged well-meaning organisations to partner with tertiary institutions in providing requisite facilities.
Oyo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Azeez Adeduntan, said the state government was focused on reducing the 165 per 100,000 incidents of maternal mortality in the state.
Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Ms Nonny Ugboma, stated that the provision of maternity facilities was aimed at reducing the rate of infant and maternal mortality in the country.
Director, MTN Foundation, Mr Denis Okoro, reiterated the foundation’s commitment to reducing maternal mortality in the country.
Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Telecommunications, Honourable Saheed Akinade-Fijabi and Chief Medical Officer, Adeoyo Maternity Teaching Hospital, Ibadan, Dr Adeyanju Olusoji, appreciated the MTNF gesture, calling on other corporate organisations and individuals to give back to the communities they operate.
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