Wife of the Lagos State governor, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, yesterday welcomed the first baby of the year 2021 at Alimosho General Hospital, Igando, Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sanwo-Olu presented gifts items to the baby and other babies during her goodwill visits to the hospital.
The first baby of the year, a boy weighing 4.3kilogrammes was born to the family of Mr. and Mrs. Onumba at 2:38 a.m. at the hospital.
Sanwo-Olu said the birth of a child required that the mother is adequately taken care of, to ensure that she got skilled care during labour and delivery.
She added that the birth of a child brings good fortune to a society, saying it was not by chance.
“We are here today not just to celebrate new lives having it in mind that our show of love, kindness and compassion is only an extension of gratitude to God,” she said.
She commended the Medical Director of the Hospital, Dr Madewa Adebajo and his team for their relentless efforts in rendering effective services to patients.
Sanwo-Olu advised pregnant women to live a healthy lifestyle that would guarantee the wellbeing of their babies.
She, however, urged the people of Lagos to adhere to all COVID-19 protocols in order to curb the spread of the viral disease in the state.
Also, Prof. Akin Abayomi, the Lagos State Commissioner for health said that celebrating the first baby of the year was symbolic as the first annual activity of state health calenders.
Abayomi , represented by Dr Olusegun Ogboye, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health said the celebration was one of the state’s ways of showing its commitment to the total health of the mother and her child.
“This is a very symbolic event and the significance is demonstrated by the priority visit of the wife of the governor and the presence of important dignitaries.
“They make it a duty to be here to rejoice with our mothers on the birth of their children and that, in itself, speaks volume,”he said.
Abayomi reiterated the state’s commitment to ensure that Lagosians have access to good healthcare delivery and reducing maternal and child mortality.
“It is still very sad that a significant number of people still lose their lives during child birth, because they either don’t have access to medical care or end up in the hands of quacks.
“We will continue do more to reduce maternal mortality through provision of basic healthcare, renew infrastructure and increased human capacity,”he said.
He advised the people to avoid activities that could increase the spread of the ongoing pandemic.
Other hospitals visited by Sanwo-Olu included, Mushin General Hospital, Orile Agege Hospital and Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).
Also, the First Lady of Osun State, Mrs Kafayat Oyetola, on Friday welcomed the first baby of the year at the state’s Specialist Hospital, Asubiaro, Oshogbo, Osun state capital.
The baby who was delivered at 1.07 am by Mrs Opeyemi Ibrahim weighed 3.2kg.
Oyetola who was represented by the wife of Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Bose Oyebamiji charged parents to always breastfeed their babies properly for the first six months delivery saying, “breastfeeding of the newborn should be exclusive breast milk to give the newborn baby grace to be healthy.”
She also admonished parents and guardians in the State to shun the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), which, according to her, is dangerous to the health of a girl child.
She presented gifts to the parents of the first baby, Mr and Mrs Ibrahim Olalekan, urging them to give their baby and sought adequate parental attention.
At the special visit were the Commissioner for Health, Dr Rafiu Isamotu; the Special Adviser on Public Health, Dr Olasiji Olamiju; and the wives of top government functionaries in the state.