Ogun State government is intensifying efforts at decimating maternal death rate to the barest minimum through various interventions such as, procurement of 100 tricycle ambulances to all the 20 Local Government Areas of the state, employment of over 200 nurses and midwives, among others into the health sector.

Wife of the Ogun State Governor, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun, who said this at the launch of the pilot scheme of Rural-Maternal Health Emergency Transport Services in Odeda LGA, decried the high maternal mortality in Nigeria, noting that about 830 women die from pregnancy or childbirth-related complications around the world everyday.

Mrs. Abiodun appreciated the Emergency Response Africa for partnering with the state government in ensuring the survival of women and children, enjoining the people of Odeda to utilise the opportunity by making judicious use of the ambulances, so as to justify the gesture.

Speaking, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, emphasised that the initiative was a targeted response to the prevailing challenge of maternal mortality, describing it as an important step by the state government to reduce maternal mortality through timely access to healthcare delivery for pregnant women.

"By providing reliable and swift transportation for pregnant women in emergencies, especially those in rural and under-served areas, we are ensuring that no woman has to face unnecessary delays in receiving the care she needs. It is free and runs for 24hrs", she said.

The Chief Executive Officer, Emergency Response Africa, Mrs. Folake Owoduni, in her remarks, said the project focuses on providing pregnant mothers and infants in rural areas with fast and reliable emergency transportation to healthcare facilities, towards reducing the high number of death in mothers and children.

She explained that there would be a dedicated ambulance tricycle and trained community first responders to carry patients to and fro primary healthcare centres, urging pregnant women to register at government ante-natal clinics to receive free vouchers to enable them benefit.

On his part, the Olu of Odeda, Oba David Olorunnisola, appreciated government for the laudable project, promising that the people of Odeda would not take the kind gesture with levity.