New Year: Sanwo-Olu welcomes first babies with gifts
Wife of Lagos State Governor, and First Lady of Lagos, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, on Monday visited four public health facilities to welcome and present gift items to the first babies of the year.
The healthcare centres she visited on Monday, first day of 2024, were Badagry General Hospital, Badagry; Maternal Child Centre, MCC; Amuwo-Odofin; Ajeromi General Hospital; and Apapa General Hospital.
At Badagry General Hospital, Baby Echo-Harry, a male, was delivered at 12:04 am, weighing 3.6kg.
At the Maternal and Child Centre, Amuwo-Odofin, Mrs Salaudeen delivered a twin through a caesarean section. The first child, male, was delivered at 12:07 am, weighing 3.0kg; the second child, male, was delivered at 12:09 am, weighing 3.05 kg.
While Baby Balogun, a male, was the first baby delivered at the Ajeromi General Hospital at 12:01 am, weighing 2.9 kg, Baby Rafiu, a male, was the first baby delivered at the Apapa General Hospital at 12:38 am, weighing 2.6 kg.
Sanwo-Olu, who expressed joy and gratitude at the arrival of these babies, extended her felicitations to the parents and the healthcare team.
She said newborn babies signify “precious blessings, hope, new beginnings, and the resilience of life.”
“Over the years, the Lagos State Government, under the current administration of Mr. Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, through the Ministry of Health, has continued to deliver its mandate to all residents in the State.
“The government has strengthened its maternal and child health policies and programmes and upgraded and constructed new MCC facilities to provide accessible and affordable mother-and-child healthcare services, thereby reducing the high rate of morbidity and mortality among women and under-five children in the State,” she said.
She reiterated the government’s commitment to creating an environment where children can thrive and access quality healthcare, the First Lady.
She said, “As a government, we are committed to creating an environment where every child will strive perfectly like their counterparts in developed countries, where quality healthcare services will be accessible and equitable using appropriate modern technology through highly motivated healthcare workers.
“I wish to commend the health family under the leadership of the Commissioner, Special Adviser, Permanent Secretaries, and other indefatigable leaders for the continuing infrastructural upgrade, the provision of relevant equipment, and commitment to human capacity development towards best global practices in order to promote quality healthcare service delivery at all levels of care, promote the positive attitude of healthcare workers, and enhance customers’ satisfaction.”
In his remark, Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr Olusegun Ogboye, expressed gratitude to God, saying the significance of the annual was promoting maternal and child health across Lagos.
While highlighting the government’s commitment to reducing maternal, neo natal, and child mortality rates, he added that the establishment of 11 modern maternal and child care centres equipped with advanced facilities and skilled healthcare professionals was aimed at ensuring quality service delivery to residents.
