.By Oluwatobi Fademi
The wife of the Ondo State Governor, Mrs. Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu today unveil plans of the government to bridge the gap in the state healthcare through an initiative tagged: ‘Olori Connection’
Speaking at a press conference held at the Banquet Hall of the Government House, Alagbaka, Akure, Mrs. Akeredolu affirmed that ‘Olori Connection’ is an intervention programme put together in response to a joint commitment signed by wives of State Governors across the country to do their best to improve the appalling statistics in regards of maternal health care, infant mortality, nutrition among others.
The wife of the governor explained that there is a vast untapped human resources in all communities that has not been utilized.
“About a month ago, the wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari invited all Governors’ Wives and she enlisted our commitment to champion Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent, Health and Nutrition – (RMNCAH +N).
“Mrs. Buhari deeply expressed her concern about the picture of what is happening with regards to women, their health and children and she wanted us to do more. She wanted us to improve the indices regarding maternal health care, infant health care, nutrition among others. We were made to sign an undertaking which we wholeheartedly signed. For me, it was a subtle matching order to go back to our states and begin to work with all the stakeholders.
“It was now left for you as the First Lady to do whatever is in your capacity to ensure that the statistics in your state improve. I had formed committee and we brainstormed and the result is what we called – Olori Connection’.
“We were looking for possible ways of engaging our people at the grassroots because you need to have effective data in order to be able to plan effectively. Take for instance, Birth Registration. Registration of birth is critical in national development”, she added while also exploring how it will work.
“Our palaces will become collection centres for birth registration and even death certificate. Take for instance if a woman gives birth to her baby, after 7 days, the baby is named. Then, she will take the baby to the Akowe Abiye in that community where all necessary details will be taken.
“It is the duty of the Akowe Abiye to take the filled forms to the Olori who in turn takes it to the National Population Commission for the issuance of original birth certificate and also for records in the local government”, she stressed while noting that such data will give direction as to what kind of intervention.
In the same vein, Mrs. Akeredolu stated plans for the official launch of the Forum for Wives of Ondo State Officials (FOWOSO).
According to her, the launch will come up on the 7th of December, 2017 at the MKO Abiola Park by 10.00am with parades, match past, various colourful displays, funfair and many other activities from women in the 18 local government areas of the state.
FOWOSO is an initiative of Her Excellency, Arabinrin Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu to support and provide enabling environments for the husbands and complement their efforts towards delivering good governance to the people of Ondo state. Other goals include to enlist the participation of Ondo state women in the socio-economic development of the state and to organise a monthly outreach also known as ‘Gbebiro’.
The wife of governor promised that association, FOWOSO, will undertake many laudable initiatives towards the much needed socio-economic development and transformation of the women and the people of Ondo.
