Edo SDGs office moves to cut infant mortality, donates Neonatal Complex to Stella Obasanjo Hospital  

The Edo State Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Office has handed over a neonatal complex to the management of Stella Obasanjo Hospital in Benin City, to provide neonatal health care services for new-borns.

The facilities in the complex include 10 infant incubators, five infant warmers, one infant resuscitator, 10 oxygen concentrators, 10 baby cot beds for mothers, among others.

The complex is expected to support the state’s effort to stem neonatal health complications, such as preterm deaths, infections, birth asphyxia, among others.

During the handing over of the complex to the management of the hospital, the Edo State Focal Person on SDGs, Mrs. Ifueko Alufohai, said the complex was constructed as part of the state government’s efforts to achieve Goal 3 of the SDGs.

“Goal 3 of the SDGs is aimed at reducing infant mortality and improving the healthcare of our babies in the state. If we must achieve the health component of the SDGs by the year 2030, we must put facilities of this nature in place to address health issues,” Alufohai said.

She urged the management of the Stella Obasanjo Hospital to make efficient use of the facilities at the complex as well as ensure their maintenance.

Commissioner for Health, Dr. David Osifo, assured that the state government will put the facility to judicious use, noting that the intervention was needed to address maternal and neonatal health care in the state.

The Commissioner, who was represented by the Chief Executive, Edo State Hospital Management Board, Dr Chris Obaseki, said the facilities would complement efforts by government to reduce infant mortality in the state.

“This keys into the vision of the wife of the governor, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, whose pet project on neonatal health care, intends to reduce the high incidence of infant mortality in the state. With strong partnership among stakeholders, we believe that the SDGs 3 will be achieved before 2030,” the commissioner said.

The Medical Director, Stella Obasanjo Hospital, Dr. Isaac Omorogiuwa, commended the state SDG office for donating the neonatal complex to the hospital, describing the facility as an ultra-modern complex which is first of its kind in the state.