Lagos unveils plans for multiple-birth mothers

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Lagos unveils plans for multiple-birth mothers

The Lagos State Government has unveiled an initiative geared towards assisting multiple-birth mothers in the state.

The initiative, tagged ‘Jumejilo Multiple-Birth Assistance Programme,’’ was unveiled during a press conference held at the Office of the wife of the Lagos State Governor, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, at the Lagos House, Ikeja on Tuesday.

Jumejilo (more than two) is an initiative to assist parents of “more than two” children, starting from triplets and above.

The wife of the governor, Dr Sanwo-Olu, in her address during the unveiling of the initiative, said it was a dream come true.

“As a mother and medical practitioner, and as the first lady, I have received numerous emails, text messages, phone calls and from the stories, we can see that many of these parents are going through hardships,” she said.

She said the initiative, which would complement other existing interventions in the state, would start from the pre-natal stage when multiple foetuses are diagnosed in pregnancy, to the postnatal stage.

Speaking on how to benefit from the initiative, the governor’s wife and convener of JMAP stressed that the initiative was not meant for those who already have multiple births.

Sanwo-Olu said beneficiaries would be asked to register for the initiative prenatally after being diagnosed with multiple-birth pregnancy.

“The beneficiaries will also enjoy postnatal care that will run for a 12-month cycle during which the multiple-birth household will undergo social empowerment, health education, and economic programmes,” she said.

The wife of the Lagos State Deputy Governor, Oluremi Hamzat, while appreciating the wife of the governor, said the initiative would assist multiple-birth parents who face challenges taking care of their children.

The highlight of the event was the presentation of cheques to two families with multiple births.