As part of effort to ensure healthy living, especially among the pregnant women and infants, the Ogun state government in collaboration with the Society for Family Health, through First Lady’s Office has rolled out the distribution of 2.6 million Insecticide-Treated Nets (ITNs) in the state.
It also empowered 300 women living with HIV/AIDs with various deep freezers, hair-dressing machines, sewing machines, start-off kits for various petty businesses among other tools as in recognition of International Women’s Day 2014.
Speaking at International Women’s Day celebration held at MKO Abiola stadium, Abeokuta, weekend, Olufunso Amosun, the Ogun State first lady identified the significance of living a healthy life, urging pregnant women in the state to find out their HIV status through testing so that measures that would eliminate mother-to-child transmission could be taken.
Amosun, who solicited effective protection of pregnant women, nursing mothers and infants from malaria parasite and HIV/AIDs virus, observed that many new born babies and pregnant women are troubled by malaria, while a good number of infants are orphaned by HIV/AIDs.
According to her, the State government target is to drastically reduce malaria prevalence in the state and join hands with Ogun State Agency for the Control of AIDS (SACA), international partners and other stakeholders in halting and reversing the spread of HIV in the state.
Also, Bright Ekweremadu, managing director, Society for Family Health said the distribution of 2.6 million insecticide-treated nets would come as replacement for worn-out and expired 1.9 million insecticide-treated nets earlier distributed in 2009, adding that the government increased the number of nets having considered population increase over the years.
RAZAQ AYINLA
