Ekiti frowns at child delivery in churches, herbalists’ homes The Ekiti State government has partnered National Health Insurance Scheme to tackle unwholesome practices like delivery in churches and herbalist homes by pregnant women. The Commissioner for Health, Prof Olusola Fasubaa, said the partnership, which would be financed by the state government and NHIS, would reduce the cost of medical services being incurred by children under five years old and pregnant women in the state. At a press conference on Wednesday in Ado Ekiti, Fasubaa maintained that the Governor Kayode Fayemi-led administration is desirous of implementing a robust NHIS-Millennium Development Goals and Maternal and Child Health in the state for people to have access to healthcare delivery at affordable or no cost. The commissioner noted that government decided to go into the MoU knowing full well that NHIS stands to protect the families from the financial hardship of huge medical bills, maintenance of high standard of healthcare delivery, adequate distribution of health facilities among others. He said the MoU will also help to checkmate unwholesome practices and change the concept of women delivering in places he described as ”inappropriate” like churches and traditional birth attendants. The commissioner deplored the rising wave of maternal and child mortality in the country despite efforts to stem the tide, describing Ekiti as one of the leading states with low incidences of the scourge. He said: “The scenario in Nigeria and many developing nations, particularly in the areas of output and outcome of our health indices coupled with critical challenges in the health sector as exemplified by persistently high mortality rate, high under-five year old child death rate and reduced life expectancy.”
Posted on: Fri, 04 Oct 2013 05:32:24 +0000