Determined to reduce maternal and child mortality rates, the Ogun State  Government has inaugurated the first set of mobile Sonographic Technicians, to provide basic obstetric service in Primary Health Centres (PHCs) that would keep babies and mothers healthy with particular attention to identifying conditions that can cause injury during childbirth.

Speaking during the inauguration at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Commissioner for Health, Dr.Tomi Coker said ultrasonography had made a significant impact in improving maternal health.

Coker noted that the Technicians were carefully selected across the 20 Local Government Areas and trained by fetal medicine consultants in the teaching hospital, saying the initiative would curb the issue of quacks parading themselves as professionals, who made wrong diagnosis with exorbitant fees.

She emphasised that the services would enable women to access ultrasound scan during antenatal in PHCs closest to them, to aid early detection of their medical conditions.

"There are certain important services that make a difference to maternal and infant wellbeing. Ultrasound sonography has been known all over the world that if you are going to make a leapfrog in reducing maternal mortality, you have to introduce ultrasonography", she said.

Coker, who congratulated the technicians, explained that they would be absorbed into PHCs under the supervision of Medical Officers of Health, to provide services only at facilities in their designated Local Governments, warning that anyone found working outside assigned centres would have their license withdrawn.

Also speaking, the Chairman, Ijebu-Ode Local Government, Hon. Emilola Gazal stated that the training was the first phase in the State with nine participants drawn from Abeokuta North, Ado-Odo/Ota, Ijebu East, Ijebu North-East, Ijebu-Ode, Obafemi-Owode, Sagamu, Ikenne and Yewa North Local Government Areas, advising them to ensure optimal performance in their respective localities.

Earlier, the Chief Trainer and Consultant, Fetal Medicine and Genetics, OOUTH, Dr. Femi Oloyede commended the State government for the initiative to improve PHCs service delivery, especially on maternal health, urging the technicians to see themselves as key stakeholders in reducing maternal and child mortality.

Speaking on behalf of the Technicians, Mr. Isaiah Bakare and Miss Motade Adedigba pledged that they would effectively deliver on their responsibilities in line with the training guidelines for early detection of complications, to aid treatment and care at improving maternal and child mortality in the State.