Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has kicked off the distribution of 1,000 pregnancy kits to expectant mothers under the state government’s “Ibi Irorun” Safe Delivery Initiative.
The initiative is aimed at promoting safer childbirth and reducing the financial burden of delivery on pregnant women and their families.
Aiyedatiwa, while speaking during the launch of the initiative, said the program was part of his administration’s commitment to improving healthcare delivery and ensuring that residents had access to quality and affordable medical services.
The governor disclosed that more than 300,000 residents had been enrolled in the state health insurance scheme, while more than 102 primary healthcare centres had been completed and equipped.
Represented by his special adviser on health, Prof. Simidele Odimayo, at the Basic Healthcare Centre, Arakale, Akure, Aiyedatiwa disclosed that 60 other primary healthcare centers were undergoing revitalisation, saying the government had also continued to support health workers to enhance quality service delivery.
According to him, the government had also completed arrangements for the provision of a magnetic resonance imaging machine, CT scan equipment, theater suites, and ophthalmic equipment at the teaching hospital level.
He described the Ibi Irorun initiative as “an icing on the cake,” noting that the pregnancy kits would complement the state government’s existing free healthcare services for pregnant women.
Speaking earlier, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Dr Bosede Osamaye, said the initiative was designed to provide expectant mothers with essential items needed for safe and comfortable delivery.
She said the first phase would involve the distribution of 1,000 kits, each containing 13 hospital delivery items approved by the governor.
“Today, the state has started the distribution of 1,000 pregnancy kits in the first phase, tagged ‘Ibi Irorun Safe Delivery Items’, which contain 13 hospital delivery items as approved by the governor.
“Our pregnant women are grateful because this will go a long way in removing burdens from their husbands and from them,” she said.
Osamaye commended the governor’s wife, Mrs Oluwaseun Aiyedatiwa, for her advocacy for free healthcare services for pregnant women in the state.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Ondo State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Francis Akanbiemu, said the kits would make childbirth easier and reduce the financial burden on pregnant women and their families.
Akanbiemu explained that beneficiaries would only need to take the kits to their health facilities when they were due for delivery.
“Everything needed for delivery is there, including wrappers, gloves, and other essential items. They do not need to take anything else to the hospital,” he said.
He noted that women delivering in government health facilities were not required to pay for delivery services, adding that combining free delivery services with the maternity kits would significantly reduce the financial burden on families.
At the event, more than 500 pregnancy kits were distributed to beneficiaries.
Two beneficiaries who spoke appreciated Governor Aiyedatiwa and his wife for the initiative, saying the kits would help reduce the financial pressure associated with childbirth on their families.