Lady Obareki Assures On Sustained Partnership With IOM Project For Care Of Pregnant Women, Children

UYO
The coordinator, Office of the First Lady, Akwa Ibom has expressed her readiness to partner Carelife Character Foundation and other partners in the Ibom Open Maternity (IOM) project, to deliver free healthcare to pregnant women, nursing mothers and children in rural communities, towards the reduction of maternal, infant and child mortality in the State. 
Lady Eno Helen Obareki made this known, recently, when she received in her office, members of the recently concluded Ibom Open Maternity project, a three weeks medical outreach, which catered to pregnant women, nursing mothers and children in seven local government areas in the state. 
   Obareki also assured that she would pull the needed strings to access the support of the Akwa Ibom government to the project, in line with the health component of the ARISE Agenda, which supports programmes and initiatives that are targeted at women and children, in rural communities. 
“We are here to partner, support and collaborate. I want to pledge that moving forward, we will continue to work with you and we will continue to work together to drive these benefits to the grassroots. 
“I will present this to the governor and inform him that this is what this organisation has done and also inform him of the plans you have for the future. I know that he will be more than willing to support,” she noted. 
She applauded the impact made through the IOM project, and also commended partnering organisations and individuals for contributing their quota to the success of the programme. 
The executive director of Carelife Character Foundation and leader of the IOM project coalition, Dr Aniekeme George, said the Ibom Open Maternity Project was a deliberate initiative aimed at breaking barriers that limit access to healthcare services for pregnant women and children in rural areas.
George explained that, although the project was originally designed to reach 5,000 pregnant women and 3,000 infants across seven local government areas, it eventually recorded over 16,000 beneficiaries, far exceeding the initial target.
He highlighted key achievements during the medical missions to include the treatment of 1,423 nursing mothers with multiple micronutrient supplements, care for 3,626 malnourished children, provision of 831 family planning services, distribution of 1,340 mama/newborn kits, facilitation of 1,271 new birth registrations and the enrollment of 3,085 mothers into the State Health Insurance Scheme.
While thanking Obareki for her support throughout the medical missions’ outreach, George noted that, to consolidate on the gains and ensure sustainability, the Foundation would explore partnerships with GIFA, wives of local government chairmen and the Akwa Ibom Primary Health Care Development Agency to strengthen maternal and child healthcare delivery across the State.
The IOM project, which took place in Ukanafun, Oruk Anam, Ibesikpo Asutan, Nsit Atai, Ikot Abasi, Eket and Nsit Ubium Local Government Areas, had as its slogan: “One Mother, One Child!”