By Samuel Bolaji, Damilola Olufemi, Abiodun Nejo and Dennis Naku with Agency report
The wife of the President, Remi Tinubu, on Monday, welcomed the first baby of the year, Boluwatife Johnson, at the National Hospital in Abuja.
Boluwatife was born at 12.03 am on January 1.
While welcoming the baby, Mrs Tinubu urged nursing mothers to practise exclusive breastfeeding and ensure to immunise their babies.
She said, “I urge nursing mothers to take adequate care of their babies, ensure that they are immunised as and when due, practise exclusive breastfeeding and provide them with adequate nutritious and healthy weaning food for their brain development.”
“Expectant mothers should always take antenatal and postnatal care seriously, maintain basic hygiene at home, space their births, register their babies with the National Population Commission and make efforts to enrol them in school at the appropriate age,” the President’s wife added.
In Lagos, the governor’s wife, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, also, on New Year’s Day, welcomed and presented gift items to the first babies of the year in four public hospitals – Badagry General Hospital; Maternal Child Centre, Amuwo-Odofin; Ajeromi General Hospital, and Apapa General Hospital.
Baby Balogun, a male, weighing 2.9Kg and delivered at 12:01 am, was the first baby of the year at the Ajeromi General Hospital, while at the Badagry General Hospital, Baby Echo Harry-Ameh, a male, who weighed 3.6kg, was delivered at exactly 12:04 am.
A set of twins, both males, weighing 3.0kg and 3.05kg respectively, delivered at the Maternal and Child Centre, Amuwo-Odofin, through a Caesarian Section, were the first babies at the hospital. The first child was delivered at exactly 12:07 am, while the second child was delivered at 12:09 am.
At the Apapa General Hospital, Baby Rafiu Rachael, a male weighing 2.6Kg and delivered at 12:38 am, was the hospital’s first baby of the year.
Welcoming the first babies at these hospitals, Mrs Sanwo-Olu said, “As a government, we are committed to creating an environment where every child will strive perfectly like their counterparts in developed countries, where quality healthcare services will be accessible and equitable, using appropriate modern technology through highly motivated healthcare workers.”
In Ebonyi, the first baby of the year was born at the National Obstetrics Fistula Centre in Abakaliki.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the baby girl, who weighed about 2.8kg, was born in the nick of the New Year.
In her remarks, the wife of the governor, Mrs Mary Nwifuru, who visited the hospital bearing gift items for the newborn, said, “She is the first baby of the year and has brought joy to her family and the entire state.”
In Ekiti, the wife of the governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, while welcoming the first baby in the state at the Comprehensive Health Centre, Adin, Ilawe Ekiti, described the birth as a harbinger of ease and blessings for the people.
The baby girl, who arrived at 12.02 am, was born into the family of Mr and Mrs Ahmed Bakare and she weighed 3.2kg at birth.
The governor’s wife, who donated cash and baby materials to the appreciative parents for the upkeep of the newborn baby, said, “It is a thing of joy to lead other dignitaries to celebrate the birth of the baby and to share the joy of her delivery with her parents and other well-wishers.”
In Rivers, the wife of the governor, Valerie Siminalayi-Fubara, visited the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, to welcome the first baby of the year, a boy, who was born at 12:01 am and weighed 3.5kg at birth.
The governor’s wife, represented by the Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Dr Adaeze Oreh, said the administration of her husband would ensure sustained access to quality healthcare for every resident in the state.
(NAN)
