Lagos — President Umaru Yar'Adua, yesterday in Benin disclosed that efforts were being put in place by his administration to ensure that deaths through maternal mortality and HIV/AIDS were reduced to the barest minimum by 2015.

Besides, he said that frantic efforts were being made by his government to ensure that women, children and persons with disability who constitutes over 70 percent of the country's population get the attention they required.

The President who was represented at the commissioning of the permanent site of the Women's Health and Action Research Centre (WHARC), by the Minister of Women affairs and National Development, Hajia Sadatu Usman Bugundu, expressed his belief that a healthy family was a productive nation, saying that as a result of this, his administration has been subsidizing the National Insurance Health Scheme (NIHS) and the Primary Health Care (PHC).

He commended WHARC led by Professor Friday Okonofua for its endeavours and foresight in coming out with the gigantic project, which comprise two blocks of buildings.

In his address, Edo State Governor, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor said that the issue of women's health was one of the issues that is at the front burner of health delivery of both the federal and Edo State Government's Health programme.

He said Nigeria's rating, as the second country with the highest maternal mortality in the world was unacceptable, urging something must be done quickly to reverse the situation.

The Governor said the state government would identify with and support the WHARC, and therefore requested the center to forward to the Government, a proposal which would be favourably considered.

In his speech, WHARC's Board of Trustees Chairman, Dr. Abel Guobadia disclosed that the Centre had remained true and faithful to its mission of promoting the health and social well-being of African women through systematic research, dissemination, advocacy and training in reproductive health.

A Non-Governmental Organisation, WHARC, commenced operation in 1995 initial financial grants from Ford Foundation and other donors, which have continued to support the center.

Highlight of the ceremony was the commissioning of the two buildings and naming them after Dr. Natalia Kanem, President of ELMA philanthropies, United States of America and Dr. Abel Guobadia.