2 months ago
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The Chairman of Governing Board of Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Tolu Bankole, has emphasised the critical importance of investing in maternal and newborn health as a cornerstone of sustainable development.
Bankole, a member of the All Progressives Congress National Working Committee, stated this in a heartfelt message on Monday on the occasion of World Health Day 2025, with the theme “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures.”
He said there is an urgent need to ensure that every woman and child has access to quality care from pregnancy through childbirth and the postnatal period.
According to Bankole, the health of mothers and babies is the foundation of strong families and a prosperous nation.
He said, “Today, I join the global community, the Federal Ministry of Health, and all Nigerians to commemorate World Health Day 2025 with the theme: ‘Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures.”
“This year’s focus on maternal and newborn health highlights the urgent need to ensure that every woman and child has access to quality care from pregnancy through childbirth and the postnatal period. The health of mothers and babies is the foundation of strong families and a prosperous nation.
“Globally, each year, nearly 300,000 women die from complications related to pregnancy or childbirth. More than 2 million newborns die or are stillborn. These are preventable tragedies that demand urgent and sustained action. Every seven seconds, a life is lost that could have been saved with timely care.”
Bankole commended President Bola Tinubu’s administration for its interventions in the health sector, which have yielded tremendous results.
He added that the Tinubu administration has significantly revitalized primary healthcare centres across the six geopolitical zones, ensuring greater access to essential services
“I commend the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR-led APC government for its impactful interventions in the health sector. The administration has significantly revitalized primary healthcare centres across the six geopolitical zones, ensuring greater access to essential services. Budgetary allocation to health has increased, with specific attention to maternal and child health initiatives.
“Health insurance coverage has been expanded to include more vulnerable populations, enabling more women and children to access affordable care. The recruitment and training of healthcare workers, especially midwives and community health officers, have improved the delivery of essential services in rural and underserved areas. Federal health institutions are also seeing improvements in infrastructure and medical equipment, strengthening the overall capacity of our healthcare system,” he said.
Bankole urged Nigerians, especially pregnant women, to prioritise their health and attend regular antenatal and postnatal checkups, saying that a healthy Nigeria begins with healthy mothers and children.
“I urge all Nigerians to prioritize their health. Women should attend regular antenatal and postnatal checkups. Families must support one another in seeking early medical attention. Our health system must evolve to address not only direct obstetric complications but also mental health, noncommunicable diseases, and reproductive health challenges.
“Let us mark this World Health Day by raising awareness about maternal and newborn health, advocating for greater investments in healthcare, supporting parents and frontline health workers, and spreading accurate information that helps families make informed health choices, he added.
English (US) ·