ILORIN – Mrs Titilayo Amudipe, the Zonal Technical Officer, Primary Health Care Development Agency, on Thursday said more than 350 pregnant women benefited from the free health care services of SURE-P in Kwara.
Amudipe said this in Ilorin at an advocacy programme to reduce maternal and mortality rate in the country.
The the meeting, which was convened at the instance of SURE-P, North Central Zone, was attended by stakeholders and representatives of various women organisations in the state.
Amudipe, however, said that only six local government areas were currently benefiting from the initiative.
She identified the local governments to include Ilorin East, Asa, Moro, Ekiti, Oke-Ero and Kaiama.
Amudipe, however, expressed optimism that the programme would be extended to the remaining 10 councils in the state.
The Zonal Technical Officer called on the benefiting councils to desist from levying pregnant women visiting the hospitals.
She also advised more pregnant women to register with health centres providing free treatment, stating that adequate drugs and other materials were in abundance.
Delivering a keynote address, the Executive Director, Maiyarwuya Nigeria Limited, Alhaji Adamu Yussuf, called on wives of local government council chairmen to ensure that trained health attendants were posted to the grassroots.
Yussuf also urged them to promote the formulation and implementation of bye-laws that would enhance the wellbeing of women and children.
The stakeholders meeting featured exchange of ideas between participants and some health officers on how to reduce maternal mortality in the country. (NAN)
