By THOMPSON YAMPUT

Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) has laid the foundation for the construction of a free maternity and child care centre in Kogi Central senatorial district.

Akpoti-Uduaghan during the foundation laying ceremony on Thursday in Lokoja, said that the centre, would be completed in four months.

She explained that the centre would provide free and efficient maternity services to women in the district.

Expressing her excitement about the project, the suspended law maker said that she understood the challenges of childbirth, having given birth to four children herself.

She noted that every pregnancy was unique and comes with its own risks, adding that women in rural areas were more affected due to limited access to healthcare.

?As a mother of four, I understand the physical toll of pregnancy and the unique risks involved. With my access to healthcare, I can only imagine the challenges women in rural areas face during childbirth.

?As your senator, I believe it?s important to build a maternity and childcare center to support the women.

?The maternity centre will be a 20-bed facility with two delivery rooms, an ICU, and staff quarters,? she said.

According to her, the staff quarters are essential, as many doctors are reluctant to work in rural areas due to inadequate accommodation.

The embattled senator promised that the centre?s services would be completely free, adding that she looked forward to seeing women gather at the centre to receive antenatal care and support.

She also highlighted the centre?s sacred location, situated near the grave of the Ebira nation?s mother and the Eid ground where Muslim faithful observe Salah prayers.

Similarly, the Kogi lawmaker also empowered her constituents with tools and training to those who had earlier been trained in welding and carpentry.

The initiative, she said, aims to enable them to start their own workshops and become financially independent.

Akpoti-Uduaghan thanked her constituents for their unanimous support and expressed her joy in spending time with them.

She further announced a donation of 200 bags of rice to be distributed to those present, in spite of the 2,400 bags of grains distributed to the constituents few weeks ago. (NAN)

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