Tag: expectant

Eighty-five expectant and nursing mothers posted to Ondo State for the mandatory one-year National Youth Service have been redeployed to their home states.

Ondo State National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) coordinator Mr. Isiaka Kuoye said at the weekend, that those redeployed had been paid their allowances. Welcoming NYSC Director-General Brig-Gen. Nnanidi Okore-Affia to the Orientation Camp in Ikare-Akoko, Ondo State, Kuoye said 2090 Corps members were posted to the state, adding that 1041 are men and women, 1049.

He said the Corps members had been of good conduct since their arrival, praising their active involvement in camp activities.

Gen. Okore-Affia urged the Corps members to respect the cultures of people in their places of primary assignment since the aim of the service is to unite the nation through service and humanity.

He said: “You must be law abiding and obey all rules. Always ensure that you do your best wherever you are posted to after the orientation programme in the camp. Respect their cultures, do not disrespect elders. Being a Corps member does not give you the authority to misbehave.

“Don’t put on clothes that will be against the culture of the areas you are posted to or something that will make the people to be suspecting you. Don’t believe that because you are a prayer warrior that you can attack the village shrine of the area you are posted to. Do not go there, don’t attack their shrine. I can assure you that your allowance will be enough for you”

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) has said consideration must be given to family planning for Africa to solve its socio-economic problem.

Fashola spoke yesterday at the launch of the Maternal and Child Mortality Reduction Programme held at the Blue Roof, Lagos Television, Agidingbi Ikeja.

The governor launched the maternal and child mortality handbook, which will be distributed free to all expectant women at government hospitals.

He described the development as a most critical link that will help curb maternal child mortality in the state and Nigeria.

The governor said a legislation to restrict the number of children every family can have was not necessary, adding that the decision to have a certain number of children must be made between the husband and wife because of its economic and social consequences.

Fashola said: “After the children come, that’s where the real work of parenting starts. You start paying school fees and taking care of all their needs.

“My wife and I, many years ago, agreed that we wanted two and we are happy with it, you may decide to be happy with four. So we do not need the kind of legislation in China where you can only have one.

“Africa must begin to slow down its population first, so that the ones that are here already are supported and taken care of before adding to the number.

“This is my own argument for family planning; it’s a matter of common sense. If you still want to be paying school fees at 76 when you should be enjoying your pension, well it’s your choice.”

The governor said the objective of the programme was to focus on mother and child adding that those who give life must not lose theirs in the process.

He said the government has initiated various programmes, including the establishment of eight 100-bed Maternal and Child Care Centres (MCCs) to address the challenge of proximity and accessibility to quality ante- and post-natal care.

Fashola said five of the eight MCCs are completed and managed by qualified medical personnel.

He explained that 45,249 babies were delivered from March 2010, when the first was inaugurated, till June this year.

The Minister for Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, who was represented by the Chief Medical Director, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Prof Akin Osubo, hailed the efforts of the state in reducing maternal child mortality.