Fashola's wife welcomes First Baby of the Year

From left: Dame Abimbola Fashola first Lady of Lagos state, carry First Baby of the Year 2015 in Lagos state, Baby of Mr and Mrs. Ogunnaike, deliver by Caesarean operation around 12:01 am. Female, Weight 2.3Kg, at Lagos Island Maternity with her Dr. Jide Idris, commissioner of Health and Dr. Yewande Adesina, Special adviser to governor on Public health, during the First Baby of the Year 2015 with Dame Abimbola Fashola, first Lady of Lagos state, in Lagos. on. 01/01/2015. Photo: Bunmi Azeez

Lagos—Wife of the Lagos State Governor, Mrs Abimbola Fashola, yesterday urged health professionals in Nigeria to work as a team, to improve and strengthen the health sector.

Mrs Fashola made the remark during her goodwill visit to public hospitals to welcome the First Baby of the Year, organised by the state government.

She said that cooperation among the health professionals in the hospital, as a workplace, would enhance productivity and also guarantee patients’ satisfaction.

While receiving the first baby of the year, Fashola said parents had a role to play for babies to actualise their potentialities in life.

Fashola urged parents, especially mothers, to be committed to laying good foundation for their children in the first five years of their lives, by making sure all the necessary vaccinations were taken.

The Lagos State First Lady said quality parental care would make children grow to become healthy and successful citizens.

Earlier, Dr Jide Idris, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, said that the event was an annual one to usher in new babies and share in the joy of the New Year.

Idris said that there had been tremendous improvements in the health services of the state, through the adoption of solid strategies and interventions.

The commissioner said there had been improved infrastructure, recruitment and training of personnel.

According to him, these improvements have increased access to healthcare development including the care for patients.

Idris called on health workers and doctors to shun rivalry, work as a team, and focus on patients’ care.

He, however, urged mothers to make use of the available hospital services by attending antenatal and post natal care, immunization as well as by imbibing good diet and hygiene.

Also speaking on the occasion, Dr Yewande Adeshina, the Special Adviser to Governor Fashola on Public Health, advised mothers to ensure exclusive breastfeeding of their babies in the first six months of life.

Adeshina said that babies were more vulnerable during this period of life, and required adequate care for proper growth and development.

She urged mothers to access family planning services at the primary health centres for adequate child-spacing and survival, to reduce infant mortality.

A baby boy delivered at 12. 01 a.m. to the Onyejieke family through normal delivery at the Isolo General Hospital, weighing 2.5kg, was declared the first baby of the year.

The Ogunnoiki family also had a baby girl through caesarian section, weighing 2.3kg at 12:01 a.m. at the Island Maternity Hospital.

A baby girl, weighing 3.9kg, was also born to the Mamoud family at the Ajeromi General Hospital, Ajegunle, at 12.05 a.m.

Fashola presented gifts to the mothers and their babies at the hospitals.