Politics
AMBODE’S WIFE WELCOMES FIRST BABY OF THE YEAR
… Renews Call For Immunization Of Children Against Killer Diseases
Wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs Bolanle Ambode on Tuesday welcomed the first baby of the year in the State, while restating her call for pregnant women in the State to always patronize government health facilities for safe delivery and also immunize their children against killer diseases.
Mrs Ambode, who said this at the annual celebration of the first baby of the year in the State held separately at Shomolu General Hospital, Maternal and Child Care Centre (MCC), Gbaja, and Lagos Island Maternity Hospital, said it was important for mothers to give quality attention and priority to the well-being of their children in the overall interest of the society.
The first baby 2019 for Lagos State was born at 12am to the family of Mr and Mrs Adegbesan at Island Maternity, weighing 3.7Kg.
The wife of the Governor said the huge government expenditure on infant and maternal health infrastructure, could only be justified by commensurate use of the modern facilities by the women, their babies and the children.
She noted further that government’s efforts in stemming maternal and infant mortality would be slow in materializing, if expectant mothers did not go to the centres to use the facilities.
According to her, “I wish to note that Lagos State Government has continued to strengthen the health sector with the provision of neonatal care units, equipment and resources to our State hospitals, to enhance the quality of maternal and child care services in our State.
“The workers in the Primary Health Care centres and General Hospitals are committed and determined to provide quality care, but you have to go there and use the facilities. Mother and Child Centres are also being located in nearly every neighbourhood of the State, for excellent infant and maternal health care delivery.”
Stressing the need for immunization, she said: “My passionate appeal to mothers, therefore, is to ensure they complete the full course of immunization for their children, to prevent childhood killers like measles, diarrhea, pneumonia, tuberculosis, tetanus and hepatitis, to mention a few. In addition, parents must avoid the use of contaminated water, malnutrition and poor sanitation, as they also contribute to childhood mortality.”
The Governor’s wife also commended the National Population Commission (NPC) for registering newborns at Lagos hospitals, urging parents to always cooperate with the agency, for accurate data compilation.
Besides, she urged expectant mothers to maintain good hygiene and health-promoting lifestyle in pregnancy, to ensure the well-being of their expected babies.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris said as part of efforts to facilitate access to health care, the State Government recently implemented the Health Insurance scheme, and urged all residents to take advantage of the initiative.
“It is our hope in this New Year, with the implementation of the Lagos State Health Scheme, more Lagosians will have access to improved services and enjoy the kind of care they would have been unable to before now.
“With the exemplary leadership of His Excellency, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, you can be confident that the State will continue to stimulate the required quality of health service delivery that is poised to address existing health gaps and even new health challenges that might emerge in the future,” Idris said.
Also speaking, wife of the governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) for next year’s gubernatorial election in the State, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu commended Governor Ambode for his commitment and investment in provision of infrastructure to scale up the health sector.
Ibijoke, who is the Chief Medical Director of Shomolu General Hospital, said it was on record that the facility had enjoyed tremendous support from the State Government, while the Governor recently approved funds to demolish and rebuild the distressed main building, among others.
At Shomolu General Hospital, the first baby was delivered by the family of Awofeso Adara Ojo by 1:47am with a weight of 3.0kg, while at Gbaja MCC, the first baby was delivered by the family of Amudalat Ojo by 1:58am with a weight of 2kg.
Aside the gifts given to the first babies, the wife of the Governor also distributed Special Mummy’s Pack to all the babies at the three hospitals.
Breaking: Speaker Obasa Debunks Allegation Of Spending N17b On Assembly Gate
The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, on Thursday described the allegation that the House spent N17 billion on the fixing of a gate as spurious and funny.
A self-proclaimed group, Lagos State Anti-Corruption Coalition, had accused the Assembly of spending the amount to construct a gate. The group also sought investigation of the claim.
Speaking at plenary, Dr. Obasa said the allegation stemmed from the fear of some people over 2027 which is still more than two years away.
Obasa further debunked the claim that the House spent N200 million on its recently organised 22nd thanksgiving service for staff.
“It is so funny. How much is the allocation of the Assembly in the whole year that we will decide to spend N17 billion on a gate? They even claimed that we expended 200 million on thanksgiving that did not hold.
“We are aware that at a period like this when we are approaching elections in 2027, we should expect such things. I think some people are scared and I don’t know why.
“This House did not and has not embarked on any such project. We are not that reckless. We had our thanksgiving last Friday and dignitaries from various parts of the State attended it,” the Speaker said.
Addressing further claims by the group about the alleged relationship between him and the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, the Speaker denied attending the latter’s screening and confirmation by the National Assembly.
“They said that I was at the National Assembly when they were confirming the EFCC chairman. I want to believe that there are CCTV cameras at the National Assembly to identify those who attended the event. The press must have written about it too. So the group should do more to confirm if I was there.
“This is just to deny the allegations in the interest of the public and not the writers because the writers are not those we should be joining words with,” the Speaker said.
Earlier, the House, through its spokesperson, Hon. Stephen Ogundipe, had addressed the allegations noting that the Assembly bases its activities on integrity, transparency and accountability.
“It is ludicrous the claim about constituency intervention funds and constituency project funds and their handling by Speaker Mudashiru Obasa and Clerk of the House, Barr. Olalekan Onafeko as claimed by the group.
“One would have expected a self-acclaimed anti-corruption crusading group to do its groundwork before jumping across the fence with conviction that it hit a jackpot to malign an institution of repute in the name of politics.
“Simply put, the Lagos State House of Assembly does not have any such funds. The Assembly does not embark on constituency projects. Instead, once every year, the House holds stakeholders’ meetings simultaneously across the state where constituents have the opportunity to tell the lawmakers their expectations and make requests for the betterment of the state.
“These requests and expectations are compiled and sent to the executive arm of government for consideration as inputs in subsequent budgets. If this is what the group takes as constituency intervention or project funds, we are sure this explanation has given the required education, moreover, it is common knowledge that it is the responsibility of the Executive arm to execute such projects,” the earlier statement by Ogundipe read.
Eromosele Ebhomele
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
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