Rotary Club of Rock City urges govt to prioritise maternal, child health

The Rotary Club of Rock City has asked the government at all levels to prioritise maternal and child health while giving the primary healthcare system the needed attention.

President of Rotary Club of Rock City, Rtn. Henry Olasupo Adedokun, stated this when the club donated gift items to the first baby born on July 25th in Abeokuta, Ogun State as part of activities marking the club’s 2nd Charter Day celebrations.

Items given to the newborn delivered at Oba Ademola ll Maternity Hospital, Ijemo include wardrobe, bath set, baby bed, flannels, shawls, sleeping suits, whips, clips, towels, cusson sets, diapers, pads, detergents, mackintosh, feeding bottles, caps, socks, baby soap, formula bottle separator and cotton swabs among other things.

Adedokun said the club’s initiative and “today’s experience reinstate the importance of prioritising maternal and child health,” adding that the project was mapped out to help needy mothers as well as support the family in nurturing the newborns with the items.

Adedokun added: “We were chartered two years ago, precisely on 25th July 2022. The month of July is also dedicated to maternal and child health by Rotary International. Since our charter as a club is 25th July, we decided to donate gift items to a baby born in Abeokuta on this day.”

Chairperson of the project, Rtn. Oke Ibukunoluwa Enitan, described the new baby as a lucky one, saying the event that preceded the donation showed that the baby is special.

She said: “This baby here is lucky because we have gone as far as the outskirts of Abeokuta in search of a July 25th baby. God knows about this baby becoming the beneficiary and to be recognised as our Irresistible Charter Baby.”

While expressing gratitude to the club, the latest mother, Mrs Bisi Lawal, thanked the club for the support given to her and her new baby boy.

The father, Gbenga Lawal, revealed that her wife had a delay after she passed her due date.

He further disclosed that the fear of the unknown made the family relocate to a prayer mountain over a month ago, a situation which didn’t allow them to get baby items ahead of her delivery.

In their remarks, both the Director of Nursing Services, A. Adeyemi and Apex Nurse, Mrs Taiwo Olufunmilola, commended the club for coming to the maternity ward to present the items.

They urged the club to continue to provide succour to underprivileged nursing mothers.

Joining Rtn. Henry Olasupo Adedokun (Irresistible President RC Rock City) for the presentation are; Past President Aremu Monday Babatunde (RC Abeokuta Metro), Rtn. Abiodun Ogundaini (Irresistible President RC Abeokuta Metro), Rtn. Olayemi Ajayi (Irresistible President RC Oke-Mosan Golden), Rtn. Williams Fakiyesi (Irresistible President RC Obantoko) and members of RC Rock City.