The wife of the governor of Ebonyi State, Mrs. Mary-Maudline Nwifuru, has flagged-off the ‘Baby Shower Initiative and Maternity Day’ a health-focused programme, aimed at supporting pregnant women and nursing mothers across the state.
The event, held on Monday, was graced by expectant and nursing mothers, health professionals, and key stakeholders. It was a testament to what the governor’s wife described as a day of celebration.
Mrs Nwifuru also described the day as “a day of commitment and most importantly, a day of love for the women who carry the future of our great state.”
She stressed the importance of the initiative as a compassionate and strategic intervention of the Ministry of Health and BERWO Foundation.
“The initiative is focused on giving mothers access to maternal care, health education and basic necessities.
“The Baby Shower Initiative is not just about gifts and celebration but also a way of saying: “You are not alone. We see, support and are here for you”.
Mrs Nwifuru appealed to women to attend antenatal and postnatal appointments, listen to health professionals and take their well-being seriously.
“Every mother deserves dignity, every baby deserves a healthy start, and no woman should die while giving life.”
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Moses Ekuma, said the goal of the initiative is to encourage pregnant women to register for antenatal care at primary healthcare centers, general hospitals and other health facilities across the state.
“The aim of this initiative is for pregnant women to come, register for antenatal training, deliver their babies in health facilities and ensure that their children receive complete immunization.
“I commend Mrs Nwifuru for her numerous health interventions”, revealing that over 4,000 pregnant women and 300 sickle cell patients have already been enrolled in the state’s health insurance scheme.
“The initiative has significantly contributed to the reduction of maternal mortality rate in Ebonyi.”
The Team Lead of BERWO Foundation, Prof. Nkechi Echiegu, disclosed that the initiative targets 17,000 women in 171 selected primary healthcare centers in rural areas of the state.
“We targeted the rural areas because women in the towns already have access to higher-level healthcare.
“We are focused on reaching women who still depend on traditional birth attendants. This is our way of encouraging them to use formal healthcare services,”
“We also hail health workers in the state who ate key partners in reducing maternal mortality and promoting healthier families.
The Desk Officer of the Baby Shower Initiative, Ngozi Aloh, described the flag-off as a turning point in the ownership and sustainability of the programme.
“We are capturing 171 facilities across all Local Government Areas and you can see the gifts we are starting with – diapers, pampers, mama care, wipes, and oils.”
The event featured distribution of baby items to mothers and pregnant women.
Ifeoma.Okechulwu,.a nursing Mother expressed gratitude to Mrs Nwifuru for her kind gesture and support to women in the state.
