By Kemi Olatunde

The Ondo State Government has approved the recruitment of health workers into various cadres in the health sector

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Banji Awolowo Ajaka stated this at the inaguration of Optimised Maternal Newborn and Child Health week (OWNCHW) Technical Committee in his office in Akure

According to him when adequate data on the numbers of existing vacancies in the health facilities ( primary, secondary and tertiary) across the state is concluded, government will come up with figures of personnels to be recruited in order to commence the recruitment process.

Dr Ajaka said as part of the commitment of the Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu efforts to continue to improve health care delivery in the state, the State has been able to get the approval from the Nurses and Midwives Council of Nigeria to train over 300 Community Nurses and Midwives.

Ajaka described Maternal and Child Health as very crucial to health service delivery that requires ultmost attention of all relevant stakeholders adding that government is poised to improve the health of Mothers, Newborn and Children through the promotion of essential health services and creating awareness on the importance of maternal and child health alongside improvement of health facility utilization.

According to him , Optimised Maternal Newborn and Child Health week is one of the various Interventions of state emergency maternal and child health intervention programs that the government is putting enough resources to drive, hence the inaguration of the Technical working group as a way of bringing all stakeholders together for better synergy and increased coverage of maternal and child health services.

He therefore urged all stakeholders including the private sector, Non governmental organization and individuals to collaborate with the state government in the noble cause of improving maternal, Newborn and Child Health in our Community.

Permanent Secretary Ondo State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Francis Akanbiemu said the National Primary Health Care Development Agency requested that the committee be set up to ensure that women, newborn and children in the society have access to quality health services.

Akanbiemu who used the forum to announce that the Agency recently received an award of having the best cold chain management system in the country, said that the administration of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu is working tirelessly to ensure that health facilities have the necessary equipment and human resources to provide health care services.

Members of the committee include the the Commissioner for Health Dr Banji Ajaka as Chairman, the Permanent Secretary Ondo State Primary Health Care Development Agency Dr Francis Akanbiemu as Co-chairman while the State Emergency Maternal and Child Health Intervention Centre Coordinator as secretary.

Other Members include, Director Disease Control and Immunization of Primary Health Care, Director Community Health Services and Education, Director Public Health, Ministry of Health, BHCPF focal person, CHIPS focal person, Director Nutrition of Primary Health, National Population Commission, State Maternal Elimination Programme Officer , National Primary Health Care Development Agency, World Health Organization, UNICEF Coordinator, ROTDOW and HIV Programme Officer of Ministry of Health.

The Maternal and Child Health week is a bi-annual event( May& November) with the purpose to provide services for the improvement of Material Health and Child survival.