Ondo targets delivery of 30, 000 babies yearly

 Ondo State Government said that more than 30, 000 pregnant women would be delivered safely of their babies with the replication of its safe motherhood (Abiye) programme in all the local government councils in the state.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Dayo Adeyanju, who stated this in an interview with journalists, explained that the extension of the programme will cost the state, about N2bn.

He explained that the pilot scheme of the programme was inaugurated on October 2009 at the Ifedore local government area and its successful implementation encouraged Governor Olusegun Mimiko, last week, to approve its extension to the remaining 18 council areas.

Adeyanju explained that the Abiye project was designed basically to address the high maternal mortality and under five mortality, which is one of the basic measurements of health indices.

He expressed happiness that the pilot scheme had been able to reduce infant and maternal death tremendously since its introduction.

He said, “We are expecting that the scale up of Abiye plus will cost government almost N2bn, that is its extension to the totality of the rest 17 local government areas.

“We expected that in the whole state, in every year, we will have minimum of 30, 000 deliveries” He added.

He said that the objective of the scheme was to bring qualitative and accessible healthcare to women and children with a view to reducing maternal and infant mortality and increasing the utilization of healthcare facilities in the State.

He noted that 31,000 patients have received treatment, including 11,879 deliveries and 1,400 caesarean sections at no cost under the Abiye programme in two years.

He said government put in place 10 functional basic health centres in all the wards in Ifedore for the pilot scheme apart from the four comprehensive health centres and one general hospital.

He, however said that the numbers of the health facilities will be reduced due to the personnel challenges being faced by the programme.

He said, “The midwives that we have on ground are not enough to go round. We have now mapped out the facilities to ensure equity in their distribution.

“We now have to scale down to four basic health centres and two comprehensive health centres, which is where surgical operation can take place and each of these will be in one ward.

“We will then compliment the remaining four wards with tricycle ambulances, which will move them from the hinterland to the basic health centre or the comprehensive health centers.

“The comprehensive health centre can also send its four wheel ambulance to move them from their homes to address the delay in seeking or reaching health care and in receiving healthcare and in referral.” Adeyanju added.

He said the semi urban wards will have the comprehensive health centre, while the rural communities will have the basic health centre and the tricycle ambulance to navigate and move the pregnant women.

He said, “There is no ward that will not have instant access. The tricycle ambulance that we have in mother and child has taken well over 10 deliveries, we have used the tricycle ambulance to take more than 10 deliveries, we have tested it.” He added.

He said all the facilities, equipment and funding needed for the prgramme had been put in place and that the issue of shortage of manpower was being addressed.

He said, “the council of midwifery has approved that we retain all our products from our school of midwifery for them to partake in the Abiye programme, we had 32 last year and this year again we are going to add another 32.

“With that we will not have shortage of manpower. We have navigated rural areas, we will post and repost the midwives and the rangers and also make sure the rangers are in regular contact with their patients” He stated.

TESTIMONIES FROM ABIYE; SAFE MOTHERHOOD PROGRAMME

Skirat Taofeek ( Tailor )
The Abiye programme is such a unique programme in ondo state. And they are really trying in all area. They don't collect any dime and they take care of me right from the time i registered  here for the antenatal to when i delivered. Even they normarlly attach  nurses that will be checking on me at home to know my state of health during pregnancy till when i  put to bed. they ggive us free treatment and medications, i was given free Abiye handset, i pray the good lord should uphold them.
Temitope Falaye (Housewife)
I started coming to the Abiye  Health Centre since when my pregnancy was five month old, and i was given immunization, free drugs, family size mosquito net, Abiye handset and a lot of gift items. Even when i put to bed, i was given clothing and other baby items.  Abiye is a good programme in the history of this state; my prayer is that the lord would be with them.

Mrs Bidiat Abidoye
The present government in ondo state is really trying because the Abiye programme has exposed us to a lot  things,that we didn't know before. Right from conception till the delivery period, i was given free drugs, free GSM phone, even a nurse was attached to me to check on me at home in order to know the state of my health and that of my baby. This governor, i can say is a saviour to the people of ondo state, especially the motherhood.
Mrs Omolara  Adebayo
i have really enjoyed this Abiye  programme because, we the mothers and the expectant mothers were given free drugs, family size mosquito net and a lot of goodies. my prayer for   Dr.Olusegun Mimiko is that whosoever that wants his administration disorganized, their lives shall be disorganized in Jesus name.

KEY INTO GOVT’S MEDICAL INTERVENTION, MRS. MIMIKO URGES WOMEN

The wife of the Ondo State Governor, Mrs Olukemi Mimiko has called on mothers and their children to tap into the various medical intervention provided for them by the present administration.

She made the call during this year’s edition of the Safe Motherhood Day celebration which took place at the premises of the Mother and Child Hospital Akure on May 22, 2012. Mrs Mimiko stated that the essence of the Safe Motherhood Day Celebration nation-wide is to review the Mother and Child health programmes of the various state governments to know their efficiency.She noted that government already knows its roles in the care of mothers and children calling on other stakeholders such as pregnant woman herself and her family members to do the right thing during pregnancy
.

She counselled people not to neglect pregnant women around them saying that the welfare of the pregnant woman should be the concern of all and sundry. She described women as the pillars of the society calling on pregnant women to take time to rest, feed well and register for ante-natal care during pregnancy. She counseled women not to handle cases of severe headache during pregnancy (ecclamsia) with levity saying that it could lead to death if not well managed.

Mrs. Mimiko who appreciated the Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko for the provision of qualitative health facilities for mothers and their children said that government is passionate about the safety of mothers and children.

Also speaking, the Commissioner of health, Dr Dayo Adeyanju said that the state government will not relent in its effort to provide qualitative health care for the people of the state. The Commissioner who reiterated government’s commitment to the survival of mothers  and child described this year’s celebration as timely and important. He noted that government will do everything humanly possible  to reduce maternal mortality come 2015 which is the time live for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

He commended the present administration for its revolutionary programmes in the health sector saying from its poor health indices, the state has become the bench mark in the health sector across the continent of Africa.
Earlier, the state chairperson of National Association of Women Journalists, (NAWOJ), Mrs Tope Fasuyi said women journalists are committed to all women oriented programmes in the state. She admonished women to use their position to ensure that there is peace and tranqility during the forthcoming election as mothers.

The World health Repesentative (WHO) Dr. Sunday Abidoye called on mothers to make use of what is been provided for them adding that the state government has been surportive in its immunisation programme.
He said the health facilities provided for them are not for animals adding that they should maximise their opportunities.

This year’s Safe Motherhood day was facilitated by Ondo state Ministry of health in collaboration with the Maternal Pulse Foundation and the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ).
The event also featured the presentation of MPF CDs for pregnant women, birth kits, drugs for children and other products courtesy of the MPF .

When to worry about fever

A fever is a very common thing. People hardly pay consideration to the rising temperature and turn to home remedies. However, in some conditions, fever is very fatal and it is very important to pay attention to it.

It is a hard thing for a woman to be less apprehensive when her baby is crying and its temperature soaring. Although rising temperature or fever is a very common thing, many people hardly pay attention to it after turning to home remedies.

A fever is simply the elevation of the body’s temperature above normal and is part of the child’s defence against infection. But it rarely does harm. However, in some conditions, fever is very fatal and it is imperative to pay attention to it. Contrary to the popular belief, fever itself is not a disease. It, however, is a sign of disease. Fever, also called pyrexia, can be defined as a medical sign that is characterised by an increase in the body temperature over the common range.

The normal body temperature is between 36.5 and 37.5 °C. An increase above these set points is considered fever. Fever leads to shivering and increased muscle tone. As the body temperature increases, the body actually feels cold. A fever can be triggered by several conditions that are potentially serious and benign.

Generally, light fever is considered to be normal, and not something serious. But it could also be a symptom of an ongoing problem in the body. Fever could be as a result of an infection or stress sometimes. But in the children, when there is fever, an infection is usually considered.

Given that fever could also be a symptom of some major diseases, such as malaria, typhoid and many types of cancers, when a person has a continuous fever, he stated, that it was better that individuals go to the hospital rather than ignoring it.

When there is fever, it was better that such an individual assume there is a problem rather than ignoring it. The fever may actually end up becoming serious than we thought. That is why, especially in children, all cases of fever should be taken seriously.Paediatricians do not ignore the fear or concern of mothers about fever because studies have shown that when a mother says her child has fever, more often than not, she is right.

According to the expert, “in children below age six, when fever is high and it exceeds 38°C, they have the tendency to have convulsion. When a child has convulsion, especially when it occurs many times within a day, it could cause some degree of damage to the brain and that is why it is good to lower the body temperature when it is high. When there was a slight rise in body temperature, it was not necessary that children be given fever-lowering medicines. 

“It is better to leave out the medicine, given the thinking that part of the body’s system to fight infection is the increase in the body temperature.

 Increase in body’s temperature is actually the body’s response to infection, which is why fever is a symptom of an infection. The substances released in the course of the body fighting the infection  results in the rise in the temperature. But the rise in the body temperature can be deleterious to the body. So lowering body temperature does not affect the body’s ability to fight infection, but it does prevent the child having other problems. Given fever-lowering medicines does not mean that the problem has been solved. “Given fever-lowering medicines alone is merely treating the symptom, leaving the cause of the problem. It is also not the time such a child should be covered up or made to wear sweater because sometimes the child may be having cold. Rather, the child should be exposed to allow the heat to be released into the environment. Mothers can also tepid sponge or bathe the child with lukewarm water to bring down the body temperature. Also, it is important to refrain from applying metholatum, anointing oil or hot balm as this would cover up the skin and prevent the dissipation of heat.

 Nonetheless, fever is usually accompanied by other symptoms such as headache, vomiting, cough, breathlessness, rash, rapid breathing, tiredness and fits or seizures. For instance, fever with swelling can be a sign of meningitis. This requires prompt attention. Similarly, fever during pregnancy or right after recovering from a disease could also be a sign of something serious.

A gentle kiss on the forehead or a hand placed lightly on the skin is often enough to give a hint that a child has a fever. However, this method of taking a temperature (called tactile temperature) is dependent upon the person doing the feeling and doesn’t give an accurate measure of temperature. To measure the body’s temperature correctly requires a thermometer.

Pregnancy No Longer Death Sentence in sunshine state

Tears of joy accompanying safe delivery is fast becoming common place in communities across Ondo state. Pregnancy is no longer the death sentence it used to be some years back. Interestingly, it is almost like a competition among women in the state to get pregnant and even among those who had earlier stopped child bearing.

Women are having a rethink and going back to the labour ward following the string of safe deliveries being witnessed across the state in recent times.

Daily intake of walnut improves sperm quality

What men eat is important in improving their fertility level. Experts say that eating walnuts may help increase sperm count in men and improve its quality.

Approximately 70 million couples experience sub-fertility or infertility worldwide, with 30 to 50 per cent of these cases attributable to the male partner. Some studies, have suggested that human semen quality has declined in industrialised nations, possibly due to pollution, poor lifestyle habits, and/or an increasingly Western-style diet.

Do you know the dangers of pot belly?

Making a conscious effort to reduce your belly fat is one of the most important ways you can improve your overall health. Experts warn that the wider a person’s waist, the higher their chances of developing diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and stroke.
Men, regardless of age can have a beer or pot belly. But for most women, belly fat is a social eyesore that they would enjoy doing away with at any cost. Having fat deposited in their tummy does not make them to look very attractive and even hurts their social life.