Osun State has taken a significant step in its ongoing effort to safeguard the lives of mothers and children. At a one-day event focused on the Comprehensive Emergency Obstetrics and Newborn Care (CEmONC) assessment report, the state government unveiled the official report on mother and child care mortality.
The meeting, held in Osogbo, on the 26th of May, 2025, brought together key players from the Federal Government and several development partners committed to improving healthcare delivery.
Dr. Adekunle Akindele, Special Adviser on Public Health to the Governor, represented the state. Speaking directly to health stakeholders and development partners, he emphasized the importance of the new data, stating it offers valuable insight into how well emergency obstetric and newborn services are functioning in Osun.
He stressed a key aim of the CEmONC initiative:
“one of the objectives of the CEmONC is to ensure that no woman should succumb to stressful childbirth, and no infant should be deprived of life, due to preventable circumstances.”
Dr. Akindele pledged that the state would remain focused on building a safer healthcare system for pregnant women and newborns.
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Efforts to reduce maternal and infant mortality aren’t new in Osun. Past administrations had laid some groundwork, and the annual Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week in May continues to serve as a vital outreach tool.
During the health week:
• Children under five receive vaccines for six major childhood diseases.
• Pregnant and nursing mothers are given insecticide-treated mosquito nets at no cost.
The meeting also had strong backing from development allies like the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, NPHCDA, JHPIEGO, SWAP, TCI, and representatives from the Federal Government.
This renewed push signals Osun’s determination to protect its most vulnerable residents.