By Kemi Olatunde

The Ondo State Government has reiterated its  commitment to prioritising the health and well-being of women and newborns in the state, with the goal of reducing maternal and neonatal mortality rates.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Professor Simidele Odimayo, made this known in his keynote address on maternal and newborn health priorities in the state at a one-day Comprehensive Emergency Obstetrics and Newborn Care (CEMONC) assessment dissemination meeting held in Akure on Thursday.

Odimayo highlighted that Ondo State has long been a leader in maternal and child healthcare in Nigeria, noting the state’s pioneering indigenous innovations, which have resulted in transformative, scientifically proven, culturally acceptable, and cost-effective outcomes.

He further emphasised that the state government has placed significant focus on improving the health and well-being of pregnant women, mothers, and newborns through a range of healthcare interventions.

These include labour monitoring, essential newborn care up to the first week of life, postpartum family planning services, management of difficult labour, hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, hemorrhage, newborn resuscitation, and management of preterm and small-for-date newborns.

The state has also prioritised the management of maternal and newborn infections as well as the implementation of Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR).

In addition, Odimayo revealed that 50 health workers have been trained on Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI), while 113 health facilities offering both primary and secondary care have been empowered to provide the E-MOTIVE bundle of care.

These efforts are being supported by partners such as John Hopkins Program for International Education in Gynaecology and Obstetrics (JHPIEGO) and Clinton Health Access Initiatives (CHAI).

As part of the approved budget for the 2025 fiscal year, the state plans to purchase ambulances for General Hospitals, expand hospital facilities, and increase bed capacity in several key locations.

These include a 100-bed expansion at the State Specialist Hospital (SSH) in Okitipupa, a 50-bed expansion at SSH in Ikare Akoko, and expansions at Igbokoda General Hospital, Irele General Hospital.

Dr. Ayodele Adelusi, the State CEmONC Focal Person, provided alarming statistics, noting that Nigeria’s maternal mortality ratio stands at 512 deaths per 100,000 live births, while the neonatal mortality rate is 41 deaths per 1,000 live births.

He underscored the critical role of improving access to quality comprehensive emergency obstetrics and newborn care (CEMONC) services in reducing these preventable deaths.

The State LEAD for the State Wide Approach Coordinating Office, Dr. (Mrs) Ronke Atamewaten, stressed the need for continued improvement in maternal and newborn services, calling for further upgrades to health facilities. She cited the benefits of the CEMONC programme, including enhanced referral services, a regular power supply, and skilled birth attendants, all of which contribute to improved healthcare outcomes.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ondo State Ministry of Health, Dr. Adeniran Ikuomola, in his welcome address, described the CEMONC assessment as both a strength and a weakness indicator for the state.

He called on participants to view the assessment objectively to formulate plans that would improve the state’s maternal and newborn care services.

Dr. Elizabeth Chukwu, the representative of JHPIEGO, congratulated the state for its efforts, noting that this was the first time such an assessment had been carried out across all 776 Local Government Areas in Nigeria. She assured the state of continued support to ensure the success of its healthcare initiatives.

Dr. Adebisi Adebiyi, representing the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), commended the Federal Government for its initiatives to reduce maternal and newborn mortality, and praised the Ondo State Government for assessing the capacity of its health facilities to effectively manage the programme.

The State Wide Approach Coordinator for Ondo State, Mrs. Dorcas Johnson, concluded by stating that the health facility assessment aims to evaluate the availability of infrastructure, equipment, essential drugs, and supplies in designated public health facilities. The assessment also focuses on evaluating the knowledge and skills of healthcare providers to deliver comprehensive emergency obstetrics and newborn care services.