Ambode, Sanwo-Olu’s Wives Hand-over Ultra Modern Maternal facilities To 13 Public Hospitals

To reduce infant and child mortality rate in Lagos State, Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials, COWLSO, yesterday, donated 32 neo-natal incubators to 13 government hospitals in the state, while giving six birthing suites to Lagos Island Maternity, Amuwo Maternal and Child Centre, as well as Epe General Hospital.

Chairman of COWLSO and wife of the incumbent Governor of Lagos State, Bolanle Ambode, accompanied by wife of the governor-elect, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, led the committee’s project team on inspection and handing over of the items, saying their vision for pregnant women in the state was access to world class delivery facilities in public hospitals.

The birthing suites are stand-alone delivery units, where all three stages of a woman’s labour and delivery take place. They have their own private conveniences for patient privacy and fitted with automated birthing beds, ultra-modern vital signs monitors for mother and baby, as well as specialised machines for monitoring the heartbeat of mother and baby and post-delivery care.

The incubators would regulate the body temperature of preterm babies and avail them the right environment to be nurtured, till they are fit to go home, thereby reducing infant mortality in the state.

At the event, Mrs Ambode stressed that ideal childbirth was that which ensured the best outcome for the mother and baby, in a safe environment that guaranteed quick recovery from birthing process, and allowed early and optimum bonding of the baby with its mother.

According to her, “my vision and that of COWLSO is that in Lagos State, any pregnant woman, regardless of origin, economic status and location, will have access to quality and safe child delivery experience that is in line with international best practice, in any of our public hospitals, at a minimal cost.

“Childbirth has always been one of the life-changing experiences for women. Different women go into labour having different emotions and expectations about the process and outcome. There is hardly a woman who had been in labour that would not remember that experience, many years after.”

She expressed hope that the model would be replicated in other government health facilities in future.

Medical Director of Lagos Island Maternity Hospital, Dr. Ademuyiwa Eniayewun, who spoke behalf of the benefitting hospitals, expressed appreciation for the intervention and laudable achievement of COWLSO, for their consistent support and effort at reducing infant and child mortality in the state.

He particularly thanked the committee for donating the ultra-modern facilities and assured the committee that the hospitals would put the facilities to good use, hoping that the gesture would be replicated in other government hospitals.