Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The First Lady of Edo State, Her Excellency Dr. Betsy Obaseki has unveiled plans to enhance neonatal care in the new year.
She said this when she visited the Central Hospital and the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) on Christmas Day to welcome Christmas babies and other new additions to Edo State’s families.
Accompanied by festive melodies, the First Lady who traversed the University of Benin Teaching Hospital and the Central Hospital Benin, navigating from ward to ward and bed to bed extending felicitations to families, presenting gifts to new mothers amid the resonating backdrop of Christmas carols and songs of praise echoing throughout the hospital.
The highlight of the day was the birth of a Christmas baby at 12:15 am to the Osagie family.
Her Excellency Betsy Obaseki showed particular concern for a mother who had delivered triplets and whose infants had been receiving care in the Special Baby Care Unit since September. She made a compassionate promise to cover the medical bills for the family.
Addressing a gathering of staff and student nurses after her ward tour, Mrs Obaseki reiterated her deep concern for neonates, outlining her plans for the upcoming year to further support and enhance newborn care in the State.
“We are working on training not only midwives, nurses, and doctors but also traditional birth attendants across the State on how to care for newborn babies. In America, they call it ‘helping babies breathe.’
“We hope to have some of you attend the programme. It’s an intense programme with a strict syllabus developed by the Federal Government. We are bringing it to Edo to train our people to make a difference.”
In response to her proactive initiatives, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of UBTH, Prof Darlington Obaseki commended Her Excellency for her unwavering concern, acknowledging the positive impact of her contributions to healthcare.
“At times we seek more than just salaries. What we need is not only money but also encouragement. Your presence here has given us extra motivation to work harder. Our staff, including doctors, nurses, physicians, therapists, all they seek is acknowledgment. Your presence here is that acknowledgment to everybody”, Obaseki said.