In a bid to increase patronage of Primary Health Centres by pregnant women, Ebonyi State Ministry of Health in collaboration with the office of the Wife of the State Governor has flagged off the free distribution of postnatal care items in rural communities under Baby Shower Initiative.
Flagging off the distribution programme at Government House Abakaliki, the wife of the state governor, Mrs Mary Maudline Nwifuru explained that about 17,000 pregnant and nursing mothers were targeted to benefit from the initiative.
Postnatal care items include sanitary pads, diapers, chlorhexidine for the treatment of the umbilical cord, cream, soap, and baby wipes.
Mrs Mary Maudline Nwifuru explained that the Baby Shower Initiative was not just about gift but a strategic intervention designed to support pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers with health education and access to maternal care.
She pointed out that the State Government and her BERWO Foundation would continue to implement measures to further reduce maternal mortality and encourage a healthy start for every baby.
The commissioner for Health in Ebonyi State, Dr Moses Ekuma said enrollment of over 4,000 pregnant women in the State Health Insurance Scheme by the BERWO Foundation had started yielding the desired result and called for more interventions.
The permanent secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Lawrence Ezogo and the state coordinator of the initiative, Professor Nkechi Echiegu said the programme was informed by the need to discourage pregnant and nursing mothers from adopting unorthodox approaches to baby care.
Some benefiting mothers said the items would go far in taking care of their needs and appreciated the state government and BERWO Foundation for the gesture.
Each of them was handed over a bag containing the items and money.
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