Edo Pregnant Women Cry Out …Say Oshìomhole Is Deceptive -By Eranga Isaac, Benin

The governor of Edo State – Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has been described as deceptive by a cross-section of Edo pregnant women.

They made this description while on a protest match in major roads of Benin City, over the non-availability of facilities in the two major hospitals owned by the state government – Stella Obasanjo Hospital and Central Hospital. The pregnant women advised the state governor to stop saying antenatal care is free in Edo State, saying it is deception of the highest order. Most of the pregnant women who spoke with Global News said it has been a recurring incidence that women ‘under labour’ are forced to buy diesel in the hospitals’ generating set in order to generate electricity. This according to a midwife at Stella Obasanjo Hospital who pleaded anonymity, became necessary because the state government has consistently paid deaf ears to the facility needs of the state-owned hospitals. She added that some that could not buy diesel were made to buy packets of candles.

It was also revealed that in the maternity ward of these hospitals, nursing mothers are made to vacate their bed space for a woman under labour. This shows there is shortage of bed in these hospitals.

It should be noted that a section of the Central Hospital that has been under construction since Gov. Oshiomhole came into power in 2007, which led to the death of the site supervisor, is still left untouched.