Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has launched the distribution of 1,000 pregnancy kits to expectant mothers under the government’s “Ibi Irorun” Safe Delivery Initiative, aimed at promoting safer childbirth and reducing the cost of delivery for families.
The initiative, according to the state government, will complement its existing free healthcare services for pregnant women while ensuring that expectant mothers have essential items needed for childbirth.
Speaking at the launch held at the Basic Healthcare Centre, Arakale, Akure, Aiyedatiwa said the programme reflected his administration’s commitment to improving healthcare delivery and making quality medical services more accessible and affordable to residents.
The governor, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Health, Prof. Simidele Odimayo, disclosed that more than 300,000 residents had been enrolled in the state’s health insurance scheme.
He added that over 102 primary healthcare centres had been completed and equipped, while 60 others were undergoing revitalisation.
Aiyedatiwa also said his administration had continued to support health workers to improve service delivery across the state.
According to him, arrangements had been concluded for the installation of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and CT scan equipment, as well as theatre suites and ophthalmic equipment, at the teaching hospital level.
The governor described the Ibi Irorun initiative as “an icing on the cake”, saying the pregnancy kits would further strengthen the state’s existing free healthcare services for expectant mothers.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Dr Bosede Osamaye, said the programme was designed to provide pregnant women with essential items required for safe and comfortable childbirth.
She explained that the first phase would cover 1,000 kits, each containing 13 hospital delivery items approved by the governor.
Osamaye said the intervention would help ease the financial pressure associated with childbirth on pregnant women and their families.
She also commended the governor’s wife, Mrs Oluwaseun Aiyedatiwa, for her advocacy for free healthcare services for pregnant women across the state.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ondo State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Francis Akanbiemu, said the kits would make childbirth easier for beneficiaries while reducing the financial burden on their families.
Akanbiemu explained that beneficiaries would only be required to take the kits to their health facilities when they were due for delivery.
He said the kits contained items such as wrappers, gloves and other essentials needed during childbirth.
According to him, women who deliver in government-owned health facilities are not required to pay for delivery services. He added that combining the free delivery service with the maternity kits would significantly reduce the cost of childbirth for families.
More than 500 pregnancy kits were distributed to beneficiaries during the launch.
Two beneficiaries who spoke at the event expressed appreciation to Governor Aiyedatiwa and his wife, saying the initiative would help ease the financial pressure associated with childbirth.
