The Lagos State Government has intensified efforts to reduce maternal and neonatal deaths with a renewed focus on emergency medical transportation under the Hope Health Project/MAMII initiative, with a sensitization programme held in Ayobo-Ipaja Local Council Development Area (LCDA).
The initiative aligns with broader national health reforms led by Muhammad Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, and is supported by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
It emphasizes eliminating preventable deaths caused by delays in accessing healthcare facilities—particularly among pregnant women and newborns.
At the event, stakeholders including health officials, community leaders, and residents gathered to highlight the urgent need for efficient transport systems in emergency situations.
Speaking on behalf of the Hope Health Project/MAMII, Mrs. Orukotan Bukola stressed that timely access to care can mean the difference between life and death.
She noted that new state-backed policies now promote improved transportation systems, family planning, and birth preparedness.
The Executive Chairman of Ayobo-Ipaja LCDA, Hon.(Dr.)Lukmon Agbaje—represented by Vice Chairman Otunba Ladi Oluwaloni—commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for prioritizing maternal and child health. He affirmed that the LCDA would fully integrate the initiative into its healthcare framework and collaborate with relevant partners to ensure effective implementation.
Also speaking, the LCDA’s Supervisor for Health, Rabiu Majiyagbe, described the programme as a critical intervention and reiterated the council’s commitment to grassroots execution.
Representatives of the Lagos State Ambulance Service, LASAMBUS , Mrs. Rashidat Saka, highlighted their readiness to provide rapid emergency response, urging residents to use emergency numbers 112 and 767.
They also encouraged enrollment in the Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme to improve access to quality care.
In a move to strengthen logistics, the agency revealed plans to partner with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) to ensure faster transportation of pregnant women and emergency cases.
Health experts at the programme identified delays in reaching healthcare facilities as a major contributor to maternal mortality, reinforcing the importance of this collaboration.
Dr. Meya Adekunle, Head of the Health Department in Ayobo-Ipaja LCDA, emphasized the need for stronger coordination between healthcare providers and transport operators.
She also promoted the Ilera Eko health insurance scheme and noted that Ipaja Primary Health Centre remains one of the state’s top-performing facilities.
Youth representation at the event came from Comrade Asisat Fagbohun of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (Ayobo-Ipaja chapter), who called for decentralizing emergency contact systems to improve response times at the community level.
Stakeholders further disclosed that emergency medical cases would receive free intervention within the first 48 hours, a policy aimed at reducing financial barriers to urgent care.
The initiative builds on existing maternal health strategies in Nigeria, where targeted programmes have historically focused on improving access and reducing delays in care delivery.
The sensitization programme concluded with a unified call for sustained collaboration among federal, state, and local governments, alongside community engagement, to ensure that no woman or child dies due to preventable delays.
“It is a thing of joy for every family to welcome a child,” a speaker remarked, “and no life should be lost in the process.”
In attendance were Supervisors & SAs, the CDC chairman, Elder Olokede, Apex Nurse, Mrs. Olayemi Olajiga; Apex Chew, Mrs. Rita Adjari amongst other Stakeholders and Dignitaries
#ayoboipaja #ijobairorun #ayoboipajalcda#work# inauguration#houseofasembly#lagosstate#lagoshealth
PUBLIC AFFAIRS UNIT
AYOBO-IPAJA LCDA