BabyFest; a pregnancy, mother and child focused trade fair at the weekend in Lagos, honoured Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, the Wife of the Governor of Lagos State with the Mother’s Touch Award for her efforts in reducing maternal and child mortality through the Mother, Infant and Child Initiative (MICH).
Three midwives were also recognized and rewarded with monetary prizes for outstanding performance at their various hospitals. The Ceremony was part of activities at the third and final day of the 2022 edition of BabyFest.
The outstanding mid-wives are Mrs Damilola Jegede of Lagos Island Maternity Hospital, Mrs Olutayo Sunmola of General Hospital, Isolo and Mrs Olutoyin Babatunde of Randle Maternity and Health Care Center Surulere.
Dr Folasade Fadare, Medical Director, Ibeju-Lekki General Hospital, Akodo who represented the First Lady of Lagos State, appreciated the award and commended the organisers of BabyFest for The Rose Awards while congratulating the awardees.
“On behalf of the First Lady of Lagos state, I commend BabyFest for this well-thought out initiative. It is a good idea. Lagos State Government is fully committed to health care delivery and so we appreciate the BabyFest and The Rose Award initiative that was born to appreciate and recognize midwives.
This will go a long way to encourage mid-wives to put in more efforts in discharging their duties. I also congratulate the awardees. All other activities at BabyFest are well commended. The Baby Shower, Diaper Changing competitions by fathers and the hilarious Baby Crawling Competition which we just witnesses will encourage family focused offerings. I congratulate the winners of all the competitions as well as the organizers of BabyFest.”
Votes were collated from different hospitals across the state from ante-natal and post-natal patients, from which the top three midwives were selected for The Rose Awards.
Reacting to the awards, the mid-wives appreciated BabyFest. The mid-wife from Lagos Island Maternity Hospital, Mrs Damilola Jegede, stated “I feel honoured receiving this award from BabyFest. We want to see more of what BabyFest is doing, hence we are open to partnerships. Thank you so much, BabyFest, I am grateful”.
The mid-wife awardee from General Hospital, Isolo, stated “I was suprised when I was told I was one of the winners. I feel great and honoured. With this, I am encouraged to keep doing my best. It goes a long way to show that patients are watching us and noticing our little contributions. I appreciate my patients who voted me, and I say a very big thank you to BabyFest”.
The awardee from Randle Maternity and Child Care Center, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babtunde stated “I was very suprised when I got a call that I emerged as one of the winners of the Rose Awards. I’m so happy and I feel greatly honoured. Just as the saying goes, to whom much is given, much is expected, I am inspired to keep giving my best on the job. I count it a privilege receiving this award from BabyFest. I say a big thanks to BabyFest and my patients who voted me. It simply tells me that my performances have not gone unnoticed.
BabyFest is Nigeria’s premier pregnancy, baby and parenting event for new and expectant mums and families. It is a social impact initiative of CAST PR.