Ogun govt shows commitment to maternal, infant nutrition

Ogun State government says it will continue to support initiative geared towards reducing maternal mortality and child morbidity rate, so as to improve the health status of its citizenry.

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker gave the assurance recently in Ijebu-Ode, while declaring open the state level training of trainers for the institutionalisation of the maternal, infant and young child nutrition course, organised by the Federal Ministry of Health in collaboration with the World Bank.

Dr. Coker said nutrition remains one of the basic determinants of good health which requires universal coverage, stating that relevant stakeholders and caregivers should be  exposed to global best practice in that regard.

The commissioner charged all frontline health workers that interface with mothers and children to provide accurate messages to households on optimal maternal, impact and young child nutrition in order to significantly reduce malnutrition in all its forms.

Executive Secretary, Primary Healthcare Development Board in the state, Dr. Elijah Ogunsola said the participants had a task ahead, noting that they were expected to go into the communities for proper enlightenment.

He urged them to see the training as an opportunity to improve their skills and capacity in service delivery in their respective areas.

In their messages, representatives of the World Bank Accelerating Result Nutrition in Nigeria (ANRiN), Hajia Hauwa Usman and Federal Ministry of Health, Mr. Muheez Seun and the South-West Zonal Director, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), Mr. Rotimi Oyewole, appreciated the state government for its support at ensuring adequate capacity building for the health workers.

Meanwhile, Coker has flagged off a medical outreach put together by the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Agape Zonal Headquarters, Ikenne Remo, as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR).

She encouraged the people to embrace the state’s Health Insurance Scheme (HIS) to enable them to access adequate care.

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