*Offers Health Insurance Premium To Infants Newborn Mothers.
By; KELVIN OKPARA, Enugu .
A non governmental organization, CUSTOS Care Foundation has flagged-off a campaign on Mother and Child Healthcare and welfare, in three local government areas of Enugu State, where they presented hampers and other forms of palliatives to over 100 new mothers to help them mitigate the current economic hardship in Nigeria.
The council areas include, Oji River, Nkanu West and Nsukka local government areas.
Our correspondent reports that the the foundation said it had during the exercise, “donated hampers and other forms of palliatives to about 100 newborn mothers in the locations to mitigate the effect of the current hardship that pervades the country.
Performing the official flag-off ceremony, wife of Enugu State, Governor, Mrs. Nkechinyere Mbah, explained that the objective of the initiative is to stem the trend of high infant and maternal mortality rate in the state.
She noted with concern, the alarming rate of maternal mortality in the country, avowing that her foundation is poised to improve maternal and newborn healthcare in the state.
Mrs. Mbah, affirmed that her foundation will also grant a one-year health insurance premium to 100 women in the pilot LGAs, through the newly launched Enugu State Agency for Universal Health Coverage Scheme (ESA_UHC).
She urged public spirited individuals and cooperations across the communities to buy into the programme by securing health insurance for other indigenous groups around them, to promote better healthcare in the communities.
“By 2030, Enugu State will be free from Child Mortality, and CUSTOS CARE Foundation will work towards that, together we can achieve an Enugu State that is maternal mortality free,” she said.
The Enugu State First Lady, said that CUSTOS CARE is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) which partners with local and International Organizations, research institutions, and government agencies to implement innovative, social protections programmes in the state.
This according to her, is aimed at promoting social inclusion and support disadvantaged groups for a more inclusive life.
She added that this is a pet project of her Excellency, Mrs. Nkechinyere Mbah, wife of the executive governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah.
“We work in five (5) major thematic areas namely; Mother and Child Healthcare and Welfare, Women and Youth empowerment, Social Protection, Basic education, and Mentorship.In their separate response the council chairman of Oji River, Nkanu West and Nsukka, all pledged to support the foundation towards realizing its goal of healthcare provision for the vulnerable groups in the state.
The then Chairman of Nkanu West Council area showed greater commitment by undertaking to bankroll health insurance premiums for 20 nursing mothers in the council.
