By Grace Ben Kato
Succour has come the way of indigent pregnant women in Lokoja, as two Rotary clubs operating in the metropolis have donated delivery kits to them as part of efforts tailored towards improving maternal and child healthcare.
The event held at the State Specialist Hospital,Lokoja,was part of activities to mark one of Rotary International’s seven areas of focus, maternal and child health.
Speaking during the distribution of items, President, Rotary Club of Lokoja Metro, Salihu Mohammed, said, the gesture was aimed at curbing infant death during delivery as well as boosting the fight against child and maternal mortality.
He added that the items will empower and assist the indigent women over come some challenges pregnant mothers encounter during delivery in hospitals.
According to him, two clubs, Rotary club of Lokoja and Rotary club of Lokoja Metro, were committed to helping the less privileged within their communities in the state through such initiatives.
Receiving the Rotary members on behalf of the management of the health facility, the Managing Director Specialist Hospital, Professor Yahaya Adagiri joined by the Chairman Media Advisory Committee (CMAC), Dr Peter Olukotun, noted that the maternal and child health indices in Nigeria was high and scary, stressing that the items will go a long way to alleviate the morbidity and mortality rate.
While taking delivery of the items,the matron in charge of Labour Room, Mrs Grace Aina, gave an insight into challenges faced by indigent woman who visit the center for delivery.
According to her, “Sometimes, women come into labour with nothing. Not even clothes for the baby. We will be running helter skelter, we cannot send them away. The items will go along way in providing support to them. We will use them for women who cannot provide for .”
The Rotary clubs also donated treated mosquito nets to pregnant women at the antenatal clinic in the hospital.
