The Oyo State government, on Wednesday, launched the ‘T’ỌMỌ T’ÌYÁ Initiative’ as part of the effort aimed at reducing infant and maternal mortality rate in the state.
The programme, which was inaugurated at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, equally aimed at improving the quality of reproductive, maternal, neonatal and child healthcare across the state.
Governor Seyi Makinde, who was represented by his deputy, Engineer Rauf Olaniyan, said the initiative aimed to, among other things, reduce maternal mortality rate by 30 per cent and neonatal mortality rate by 20 per cent.
According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, following the launch of the initiative, the number of births by skilled birth will increase by 30 per cent while the healthcare facility utilisation in the state will also rise to 60 per cent.
While inaugurating the steering and technical working committees, the governor stated that the committees will oversee all the Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Child Jealth (RMNCH) programmes in the state and also gave insights into the direction things should go.
He assured that the state, through the initiative, will meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Number Three, which targets improving maternal health.
“It is this project that we are here today to inaugurate-the T’ỌMỌ T’ÌYÁ Initiative. As the name suggests, the initiative is for the mother and child. It is one key way through which we will be meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Number Three, which targets improving maternal health.
“Our plan is to ensure that qualitative maternal and child healthcare services are offered at minimal cost. This will enable us to meet the objectives of this initiative.
“We are aware that in 2023, when this administration will be winding down, there will be another NDHS report. When that report comes out, we would like to see drastic reductions in these negative indices. Our goal is to reduce maternal mortality by 30 per cent and reduce neonatal, infant and child mortality by 20 per cent in Oyo State.
“To achieve this, by the grace of God and with the dedication, hard work and commitment of everyone involved in this project, we aim to increase the number of births by skilled birth attendants in the state by 30 per cent while also increasing the health care facility utilisation in the state to 60 per cent,” the governor said
He also said the state would begin a pilot testing of some of the programmes under the initiative, noting that the state would advocate the meeting of the World Health Organisation recommendation of four or more antenatal care visits during pregnancy.
“So, we hope to start piloting some of the programmes under this initiative in the shortest possible time. One of the important things we will be advocating is meeting the WHO recommendation of four or more antenatal care visits during pregnancy.
“The statistics show that when pregnant women are able to make at least four visits, the major complications that account for nearly 75 per cent of all maternal deaths are prevented,” he said.
He lauded the implementing partners for accepting to be members of the initiative, adding: “As you embark on your deliberations to provide a blueprint on how we are to achieve these objectives, I must especially thank the implementing partners for accepting to be members of this important initiative. I pray that your source of ideas never runs dry as you think up creative ways of getting us off that list of worsts.”
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