By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
The representative of Rotary International in Kogi state, Mrs Grace Ben-Kato, on Saturday in Abejukolo described dialogue in health care delivery system as an antidote to quality obstetrics care, improved hygiene and sanitation as well as reduction in maternal and infant mortalities.
Mrs Ben-Kato, who disclosed this at the end of a two-day training programme at Abejukolo in Omalla local government area said the intervention was designed as community dialogue with active engagement of all stakeholders.
Mrs. Kato said Rotary International in collaboration with Kogi state Ministry of Health has concluded training of pregnant and nursing mothers on basic hygiene, nutrition and modern methods of family planning in Omala Local Government area of Kogi state.
The representative of Rotary international pointed out that the programme was organised in conjunction with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development as well as the Federal Ministry of Health and implemented under the National Family Planning Campaign (NFPC) project.
Mrs Florence Abiodun Coordinator, Family Planning Unit of the state Ministry of Health, in her lecture on Hygiene, Nutrition And Modern Family Planning, encouraged nursing mothers to take issues of hygiene and nutrition seriously.
Florence emphasised the need for proper child spacing saying that it was critical and important to the health and well-being of the children and their mothers.
According to her, lack of proper spacing of children can lead to an increase in poverty and malnutrition adding that modern family planning enables mothers to have children they can cater for.
Abiodun urged the women to always consult health professionals on such issues and as well obtain their husbands’ consent before opting in.
The women on their part described the training as timely, stressing that it had increased their understanding of nutrition, family planning, healthy living and would enhance the health of their newborn.
Earlier on an advocacy visit to Ojogba of Omala, Chief Boniface Musa, Chairman of the Area Traditional Council, the training team solicited support of the traditional institution for the on-going campaign on family planning, maternal and infant health.
