By Solomon Odeniyi
THE State Government of Osun has restated its commitment to end child and maternal mortality in the state.
To achieve this, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola on Tuesday inaugurated the State Emergency Maternal and Child Intervention Centre (SEMCHIC) and the Community Health Influencers Promoters and Services (CHIPS) Programmes.
Oyetola said the move was to reduce the menace of child and maternal mortality in the state.
In supporting the move, 315 Solar Direct Drive (SDD) Refrigerators were donated to the state by the National Health Care Development Agency, Global Alliance Vaccine Initiative, UNICEF, among others, for the preservation of immunized drugs against diseases.
The Governor, who was represented at the event by his Deputy, Mr. Benedict Alabi, explained that the inaugurated CHIPS agents were saddled with the responsibility of identifying pregnant women and children, who are in need of medical care services and refer them to Primary Health Care facilities for adequate attention.
He further said that the initiative would accommodate and provide basic services to children under the age of five, and as well as enhancing community participation to guarantee maternal and child health as part of intervention of his administration in the health sector.
The governor, while highlighting the rationale behind efforts to strengthen the PHC in the state, said the major focus of such intervention was to tackle child and maternal deaths headlong.
Oyetola added that the state had been able to put the health sector in the right footing through the renovation and equipping of 332 PHCs across the state, as well as adequate motivation of health personnel for greater productivity.
He said: “With these efforts, the hitherto decadence in the health sector across the state is speedily becoming a thing of the past.
“Our government is restoring the lost confidence in Primary Health Care system by the general populace, as 332 PHCs have been renovated by our administration and they are currently in use at the various LGAs.
“The speed at which the works were completed is a proof that our administration is goal-oriented and truly means well to deliver the dividends of democracy to all and sundry.”
The Governor, however, emphasised the need to galvanise and coordinate the efforts of the government, in order to ensure efficient utilisation of resources and maximise coverage with high impact intervention.