By Ighomuaye Lucky. O
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has reiterated that his administration’s health initiatives would outlive his tenure in office.
Speaking at the graduation of the 3rd batch of medical personnel trained in Essential Newborn Care, the governor said these projects are designed to remain impactful long-term, affirming, “The champion of this cause will remain steadfast in supporting this initiative.”
The ceremony marked the completion of the Betsy Obaseki’s “Make No Pikin Die” initiative, which has trained 132 medical personnel in the Essential Newborn Care Course (ENCC) to tackle neonatal mortality in Edo State.
Governor Obaseki emphasized that these achievements go beyond governmental efforts, crediting Betsy Obaseki for her dedication.
“This initiative has been championed not just by the government but by committed individuals. I am confident it will be sustained even after we leave office,” he added.
Speaking, the governor’s wife, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, expressed her commitment to meeting neonatal survival goals, stating, “Our target is to reduce neonatal deaths to fewer than four per 1,000 births.
“We take this seriously and continue to encourage all of you to cascade these trainings. We also have a stringent system for monitoring and evaluating outcomes to ensure that we reach our goal.”
She called on hospital administrators across Edo to support trained medical personnel in cascading these life-saving techniques throughout healthcare facilities in the region.
“This year’s 24 graduates join 108 other trainers from previous sessions held in 2022 and earlier in 2024, bringing the total trained under the ENCC initiative to 132.
“The training, developed by the federal government and implemented by me covers critical interventions such as “Helping Babies Breathe,” “Essential Care for Small Babies,” and “Essential Care for Every Baby.”
“These modules aim to reduce neonatal mortality by equipping healthcare providers to ensure newborns receive vital care within their first minutes of life.
Speaking also, Prof. Kenechukwu Iloh, the Course Director, highlighted the urgency of addressing Nigeria’s high neonatal mortality rate. “We lose 41 babies per 1,000 births in this country, while some nations boast rates as low as three or four per 1,000,” he stated.
He praised Edo State’s achievements, noting, “Edo has one of the best records in Nigeria, with seven deaths per 1,000 births.”
Also, the graduates expressed enthusiasm about their mission to improve newborn survival rates.
Dr. Peace, one of the newly trained healthcare providers, shared, “This is truly life-changing. In Edo State, no child should have to die needlessly.”
This latest batch of trainers will further strengthen Edo’s healthcare system, as the state works toward achieving the global target of reducing neonatal mortality to single digits by 2030.
