Leadership (Abuja)
16 November 2008
The federal government should be decisive in reversing the current high maternal and child mortality rates in Nigeria.
It should also check excessive bleeding after child-birth, and encourage child spacing among couples.
The call was made yesterday in Damaturu, Yobe State, at a stakeholders' forum on child spacing and excessive bleeding after child-birth.
The forum was organised by the Federal Ministry of Health in conjunction with the Society for Family Health.
Mrs Fatima Mohammed, a senior manager in the society, noted that Nigeria records 800 deaths in every 100,000 mothers giving birth, pointing out that the alarming figure should be of concern to the government and all stakeholders.
She said that the rate could be controlled with adequate training to service providers, improved health facilities and access to information and drugs.
She observed that Nigeria could only attain the targets of the Millennium Development Goals if it had a healthy citizenry.
She said no religion was against child spacing, and urged couples to space the number of children they desire.
Mohammed said the society had lined up a five-year project to increase access to, and generate informed demand for long term, reversible child-spacing method.
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