Kemi Olatunde
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To  achieve drastic reduction in the morbidity and mortality of Neonates, the Ondo State Government through the Saving One Million Lives for results (SOML) has trained over one hundred skilled birth attendants on neonatal resuscitation and insensitive newborn care.

Speaking at the  closing ceremony of the  nine-day training programme for Nurses and Midwives at Igbara Oke , the Commissioner for Health, Dr Wahab Adegbenro said the training is very vital as children face the highest risk of dying in the first month of life and this  accounts for about 18 out of every 1,000 live births.

According to him,  Global records show that in 2017 alone, about 2.5 million Neonates died in the first one month, most of which happened in the first one week, one million on the first day of birth, some of which can be prevented hence the training on Neonatal Resuscitation and Intensive Newborn Care.

 Adegbenro disclosed that since 2013, Global under five mortality rate has reduced by almost half  but can be improved upon.

This development ,the Health Commissioner attributed to more effective and affordable treatment, innovative ways of delivery, critical interventions to the poor and sustained political commitment as well as other vital child survival interventions which have helped to save over 100 million lives in the last two decades.

Adegbenro appreciated health workers in the state and development partners for rising up to the challenge of stemming infant mortality when Ondo State was regarded as the State with the worst Maternal and Neonatal death index in southwest Nigeria.

To sustain and possibly improve on the reduction in maternal and child mortality,  the Health Commissioner added that the State government has concluded plans to make Maternal and Child Healthcare free by paying their premium in the Contributory Health Scheme which will take off anytime  from now as well as designating additional five secondary facilities to render Mother and Child Healthcare free.

The Programme Manager, Ondo State Saving One Million Lives for Results,  Dr Abiola Oguneneka in her presentation said the programme was put in place in 2012 due to the poor health indices of maternal and child mortality with the strategy of rewarding performance on maternal and child health which according to her has assisted greatly in the downward review of this incidence.

The six pillars on which Saving One Million Lives for Results is assisting the State are; use of Insecticide Treated Nets by children under five, Skilled Birth Attendants, Penta 3 Vaccination,  Vitamin A coverage for children aged 6-59 months, HIV counseling and testing during antenatal care and contraceptive prevalence rate.