Concord Times (Freetown)
Bhoyy Jalloh
11 July 2008
Traditional rulers in Sierra Leone and some other African countries have been enlisted by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in the fight against maternal mortality in Africa.
The global body, which expressed concern over the increasing cases of child and maternal mortality in the region, will from July 16 to July 22, 2008 assemble 250 African monarchs in Nigeria to map out fresh assault against the menace.
The meeting tagged, "No woman should die giving life," will hold in Sokoto.
UNFPA believes that to reduce maternal mortality and promote maternal health, "traditional and religious leaders have a critical role to play. Though changes have been happening, still, most segments of communities have remarkable levels of trust in religious and traditional leaders - generally higher than their trust in other societal institutions. Traditional and religious leaders are listened to and respected." UNFPA says "traditional and religious leaders can make substantial contributions to facilitate reduction in maternal mortality and promote well being of families and communities provided they are sufficiently informed, effectively mobilised and positively challenged." So, traditional leaders are good entry points to changing people's attitudes.
According to UNFPA, current statistics on maternal mortality and under-5 children are not pointing towards ability to meet the health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015, hence the need devise means of reversing the trend.
"An estimated half a million women die at childbirth or pregnancy-related causes. As a result, more than one million children are left motherless and vulnerable. Also, for every woman, who dies, an estimated 20 or more other women experience serious complications such as obstetric fistula," a UNFPA release stated.
Apart from Sierra Leone, traditional rulers are expected from Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Chad, Cote d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Rwanda, Senegal, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda and the host country, Nigeria.
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