Pregnant women have been encouraged to take advantage of free antenatal care provided at hospitals and other health facilities closest to them, to avert preventable childbirth complications.
The Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady, Akwa Ibom State, Lady Helen Eno Obarek, gave the encouragement while distributing maternal care packs to pregnant women at Mary Slessor Primary Health Centre, Effoi, Eket Local Government Area.
The gesture was part of efforts towards improving maternal healthcare in Akwa Ibom state by the Golden Initiative For All, GIFA, an initiative of the office of the First Lady of the state.
Speaking at the event, Lady Eno-Obareki, urged nursing mothers to prioritise the breastfeeding for the first six months of infant’s life, saying that exclusive breast feeding contributes immensely to the wholesome development of children.
The First Lady Designate, represented by the Special Assistant to Governor Umo Eno on General Duties, Pastor Ann Abraham, applauded Traditional Birth Attendants who, according to her, are collaborating with trained health practitioners by referring pregnant women to the hospital for proper medical attention.
Lady Eno-Obareki who thanked collaborating partners for initiating the programme, reiterated the state government’s commitment to supporting such meaningful initiatives.
She encouraged victims of Gender Based Violence, especially those amongst the pregnant women, to reach out to GIFA for support, counseling and guidance, stressing that the Initiative is for the benefit of all.
On behalf of collaborating partners, Dr. Uwem Offon, disclosed that in addition to GIFA’s kind gesture, free medical care have been for pregnant women and nursing mothers in the area, noting that the partnership has brought succour to women in the rural areas of the state.
The Chairman of Eket Local Government Council, Mr Akan Tommy who was represented by the Vice Chairman, Inyang Akpanwan, applauded the First Lady and partners for their commitment to the breastfeeding programme, and admonished nursing mothers to exclusively breastfeed their infants, describing breast milk as a complete food that contains all necessary nutrients for the growth and health of babies.
In a remark, Special Assistant to the Governor on Women Mobilisation, Rev. Rose Wills, urged nursing mothers to adhere to the dosage prescription and other instructions from the health practitioners to avoid complications in their infants’ health.
Source: Ikechukwu Agbamegbue
