LAGOS State governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, on Thursday, inaugurated the maternal and child care mortality reduction progra-mme in the state, stating that the state has built eight maternal and child care hospitals in the past five years, to provide life saving services to mothers and children.

The governor, who spoke at the Blueroof Hall, Lagos Television (LTV) 8 Complex, Agidingbi, said five of the hospitals had commenced full operation, adding that two had been completed with training of staff ongoing.

Fashola said the government had awarded contracts for another two more centres in Badagry and Epe, to ensure distance to hospital for pregnant women was reduced.

Fashola said between the time the first facility was opened in 2010 and June 2012, the five hospitals had delivered 45,249 babies, out of which 15,050 were through caesarian sections and 29,497 normal deliveries.

“It is a project within a comprehensive programme that started in 2007,” he said, adding that when he was elected as governor, one of the challenges he resolved to confront was the index of maternal and child mortality.

On diabetes and hypertension screening and treatment, which was one of the first to be kicked off at Ifako–Ijaiye on assumption of office, he said between 2007 and July 2012, a total of 96,468 people had been screened, while the programme continued.

In his address, Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, represented by the Chief Medical Director of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Professor Akin Osibogun, commended the efforts of the government towards the well-being of the people.

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