Olasunkanmi Akoni, Chioma Obinna
2 January 2009
As Nigerians join the rest of the world in ushering in the New Year on yesterday, at least seven new babies were born at four public hospitals in Lagos State, with the first arriving at about 12.01 am at Ayinke House, Lagos State university Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja while the set of twins were born at Island Maternity Hospitals, Lagos Island and another at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) at exactly 1:30 am.
According to Chief Medical Directors, two babies were delivered in Ayinke House, two in Gbagada General Hospital and twins in Lagos Island Maternity Hospital.
The happy parents are Mr. & Mrs. Akinyemi Oshonaiye; Mr. & Mrs. Okechukwu; Mr. & Mrs. Adio; Mr & Mrs Akingbade and Mr. & Mrs. Adebayo Adebajo.
Baby Oshonaiye, female who was the first to arrive at about 12.01 am in Ayinke House weighs 3.6 Kg while baby Okechukwu was delivered at about 2. 55 am, weighing 3.6 Kg also at Ayinke House. Both were delivered through normal delivery.
Mrs. Adebajo, 27 years and a Sociology student of University of Ado Ekiti gave birth to a set of twins at Island maternity Hospital with the first of the twins coming out at about 12.01 am weighing 2.6 kg while the second one was delivered at about 12.02 am weighing 2.5 kg.
At Gbagada Hospital, Mrs Adio gave birth to a baby girl at about 12.01am, weighing 2.9 kg while Mrs Akingbade delivered another baby girl at about 6.25 am weighing 3.5 kg.
Also at LUTH, a 28-year-old mother, Mrs Stella Onyekwelu gave birth to a baby girl which weighed 3.1 kilogramme at exactly 1:30 am.
Mrs Abibola Fashola, wife of Lagos State Governor while paying a congratulatory visits to the obviously elated mothers at their different place of birth, presented various gifts to them and rejoiced with them on their successful delivery.
While also congratulating the chief medical directors, doctors and nurses and other staff for good job enjoined the mothers to take good care of the new born babies by ensuring that they are breastfed exclusively for the first six months and also adhere strictly to their immunisation schedules.
Mrs. Onyekwelu, who laboured for over 24 hours before she delivered said she decided to name her Mitchell, meaning who is like God because of the circumstances surrounding her delivery.
According to her, while she was pregnant, it was discovered that the position of the baby was not normal which would require special care by qualified medical experts during delivery.
Her words, "Infact the labour was terrible because the baby was facing up and when a baby is facing down it is usually much easier. It was indeed a hard labour."
Onyekwelu who was full of gratitude to the members of the staff of the hospital thanked God for safe delivery, particularly for making it possible for her baby to be born on a special day.
"I feel honoured, special and great that I am alive to witness this day. I thank God for his mercy especially for allowing my baby to be born on first of January and to become the first baby born in this hospital."
Presenting gifts to the mother of the baby, the Chief Medical Director of LUTH, Prof. Akin Oshibogun who congratulated the young mother confirmed that both baby and the mother were in stable condition.
The Chief Medical Director who pledged the hospital's determination to continue to deliver quality healthcare services to Nigerians also promised that in this 2009, the staff and management of the hospital would redouble their efforts to service more than they did in the year that just ended.
"We are going to do everything possible to ensure that we deliver better services to our people and in the service of our country. This hospital will do even better in 2009 than we did in 2008. Our performance in 2008 was better than 2007, so we are moving upwards by the grace of God".
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