Bello inaugurates health programme on infant mortality

KOGI state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, on Tuesday inaugurated a health programme aimed at reducing infant mortality rate in the state.

The programme known as the “Bello Health Intervention”, according to the governor was a key strategy aimed at reducing under-5 child deaths from preventable or treatable childhood diseases.

He said the present administration had resolved that every child born in the state would live, thrive and contribute to national development.

Bello said, “It is the priority of my administration to let every life count amd the time has come for us to roll out Bello Health Intervention programme targeted at reducing preventable child death in Kogi State under my watch.

“Poverty has been identified as a strong contributor to these child deaths and in line with our new direction agenda to deliver quality health services to the people of Kogi State I hereby present Bello Health Intervention package comprising of the distribution of free drugs across 10 hospitals in the three senatorial districts for the treatment of malaria, pneumonia, diarrhea, new born infections and other curable curable childhood diseases”.

The governor also inaugurated the adoption of Chlorhexidine gel for umbilical cord care as recommended by the Federal Ministry of Health and World Health Organisation putting a stop to the use of methylated spirit for cord care.

He noted that the move would help his administration to realise one of its targets in the New Direction blueprint; which is reducing infant mortality rate to below 10 per 1000 live births.

He however warned the head of various health facilities against diverting the commodities for private use other than the purpose it is meant for, saying there would be punishment for offenders.