Island Maternity in Lagos recorded a total of 3,493 births in 2018, and on Tuesday began the New Year with early deliveries of two babies at 12.00am and 12.01am, respectively, to become first babies of 2019 in the state.
Of the 3,493 total births at the health facility in 2018, 111 were recorded as sets of twins, 12 were triplets while one was quadruplet (four babies in one birth).
The first babies of 2019 – a male and a female child, weighing 3.7kg and 2.8kg, respectively, were presented to the wife of the state governor, Bolanle Ambode, who arrived the hospital yesterday morning with lots of gifts for babies born at the facility and two other hospitals in the state.
At the General Hospital, Somolu, a male child was also born at 1.47 am, weighing 3kg and two females at the Randle General Hospital, Surulere, at 1.58am and 4:00am, weighing 2kg and 2.7kg, respectively.
Ambode, who visited the three hospitals to share the joy of the new births with the families, advised pregnant women to patronize government health facilities for deliveries.
She explained that the investment being made by the government on infant and maternal health infrastructure, could only be justified by commensurate use of the modern facilities, by the women, their babies and children. She noted that government’s efforts in stemming maternal and infant mortality would be slow if expectant mothers did not go to the centres to use the facilities.
“I wish to note that the state government has continued to strengthen the health sector with the provision of neonatal care units, equipment and resources to our state hospitals, to enhance the quality of maternal and child care services in our state,” she said.
She also appealed to mothers to ensure they complete the full course of immunisation for their children to prevent childhood killer diseases.
“In addition, parents must avoid the use of contaminated water, and poor sanitation, as they contribute to childhood mortality,” she said.
She urged expectant mothers to maintain good hygiene and health- promoting lifestyle in pregnancy to ensure the wellbeing of their expected babies.
Jide Idris, the state commissioner for health, said with the implementation of the Lagos State Health Scheme, more residents would have access to improved health services.
Idris said this would reduce neonatal and infant mortality and ensure safe motherhood, noting that the plan of the state government was to get all residents into the health scheme and focus on the basic healthcare in the state.
Speaking also, Hakeem Muri Okunola, the Head of Service, congratulated the families of the new babies and lauded the governor’s wife for sustaining the Baby of the Year initiative.
