1. OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY GOVERNOR
Keymote address delivered by
Her Excellency Mrs. ‘Funmi OLAYINKA
Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Nigeria,
At the commemoration of the 2011 safe motherhood sensitization
campaign organized by the Ministry of Health in Ado-Ekiti on November
17, 2011
PROTOCOLS
It is my Pleasure to be here at this important occasion
first as a mother and then in my official capacity.
I feel elated as a mother to share in the joy of this year’s
celebration of Safe Motherhood Day in our dear State
with the theme: Birth Preparedness & Compilation
readiness.
The Safe Motherhood initiative was established in 1987
by World Health Organisation / UNICEF to improve
maternal, newborn & child health. I am aware that it is
an initiative that guarantees safe pregnancy, safe
delivery, post partum care, family planning, emergency
obstetric care, prevention of sexuality transmitted
infections and most importantly prevention of Mother to
Child transmission of HIV / AIDS.
It also aims at delivering package of high impact & cost
effective interventions to improve the health of women of
child bearing age. As we are all aware, maternal & Child
1 | Page Commemoration of 2011 safe motherhood sensitization
campaign in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday November 17, 2011.

2. OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY GOVERNOR
mortality continue to be major challenges in health care
issues in Nigeria.
The latest Maternal Mortality Rate was put at 545 /
100,000 life births (NDHS 2008). Currently in Ekiti
State 50% of births occur in spiritual homes, 30% in
governmental health facilities while 20% occur in private
hospitals. This low utilization of public health facilities
contribute largely to maternal mortality.
To us in the Dr. Kayode Fayemi led administration in
Ekiti State, the present rate of maternal mortality is not
only unacceptably high but should be considered a thing
of emergency, needing urgent solution.
We believe that most of these deaths are preventable, a
situation that has increased our resolve at deepening
among others:
• Health care delivery for our people.
• Reducing maternal and child mortality and
• Attaining the health related millennium development
goals.
For us, our women do not have to die in the course of
delivery or that children should die through preventable
causes. This is why effective, efficient and free health
service delivery to Children, mothers and the aged forms
one of the eight point agenda of this administration.
2 | Page Commemoration of 2011 safe motherhood sensitization
campaign in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday November 17, 2011.

3. OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY GOVERNOR
I want to state that the theme for this year “planning for
birth and complication readiness” cannot be more
appropriate than now. A family that fails to plan for an
expectant mother plans to fail and prepares great danger
to both mother & child.
I am told that the emphasis in this year’s celebration is
on the need to systematize the plan of action to address
the socio-cultural issues of the community and ensure
male involvement in Ante-natal care, health institutional
delivery, post – natal care and family planning.
Beautiful Ekiti mothers, distinguished guests at this
occasion, let me urge you to the need for mothers to
ensure delivery at health facilities and avail themselves
with the opportunities provided under the free health
services of this administration in other to reduce
maternal death and attain MDG 5 before 2015.
Let me also implore health workers & other stakeholders
in the health sector to play their expected roles. If MDGS
are to be achieved, all hands must be on deck.
I therefore congratulate our pregnant & nursing mothers
as we celebrate.I wish all pregnant women safe delivery
in Jesus name. “ A sokale Ayo”.
Thank you & God bless.
3 | Page Commemoration of 2011 safe motherhood sensitization
campaign in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday November 17, 2011.

4. OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY GOVERNOR
H.E. MRS. ‘FUNMI OLAYINKA
DEPUTY GOVERNOR OF EKITI STATE, NIGERIA.
Ado-Ekiti
Thursady November 17, 2011
4 | Page Commemoration of 2011 safe motherhood sensitization
campaign in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday November 17, 2011.