Over 4,000 pregnant women and nursing mothers in Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have received free medical services and care packs under the Ibom Open Maternity (IOM) project and the Golden Initiative For All (GIFA).
The beneficiaries were attended to during a medical outreach held at the Primary Health Centre, Upenekang, Ibeno.
The intervention, organised by Carelife Character Foundation in partnership with Ibeno Local Government Council, with support from GIFA and other partners, provided free medical check-ups and essential healthcare services to pregnant women and nursing mothers.
Speaking on behalf of GIFA, the Press Secretary to the First Lady, Mrs Uduak Ekong, urged mothers to practise exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a child’s life and continue breastfeeding up to two years, noting that breast milk provides essential nutrients needed for brain development and overall growth.
Mrs Ekong also advised pregnant women to prioritise regular antenatal care, stressing that timely medical checks help healthcare professionals monitor the health of mother and baby and detect possible complications early.
She urged beneficiaries to make use of available healthcare services and adhere to medical advice on proper nutrition, adequate rest, hygiene and regular health checks.
The Chairperson of Ibeno Local Government Council, Mrs Glory Effiong, commended Carelife Character Foundation and its partners for taking the intervention to the grassroots.
Mrs Effiong said the initiative was making a meaningful difference in the lives of residents, while appealing to organisations and other stakeholders to support the renovation of dilapidated health facilities in riverine communities to improve access to healthcare.
The Team Lead and Coordinator of the Ibom Open Maternity project, Dr Aniekeme George, described the programme as a collaborative intervention aimed at improving access to quality maternal and child healthcare at the grassroots.
Dr George said the IOM project was designed to bring essential healthcare services closer to women and children, particularly those facing challenges accessing conventional healthcare services.
Also speaking, the Member representing Ibiono Ibom State Constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly and Chairman of the House Committee on Health, Nutrition and Food Security, Hon. Moses Essien, commended the organisers and partners for the intervention.
Hon. Essien said healthcare delivery should not be left solely in the hands of government, stressing the need for partnerships with organisations and other stakeholders to strengthen healthcare services across the state.
The lawmaker further encouraged mothers to embrace exclusive breastfeeding, describing breast milk as more nutritious for infants than formula and urging women to adopt the practice for the healthy development of their children.
