Jalingo — First Lady, Hajiya Turai Yara'Adua, has called on policy makers to focus on issues that would reduce child and maternal mortality rate in the country.

Turai, who made the call during her one-day advocacy visit to Taraba State, recalled that Nigeria has one of the highest maternal and child health outcomes in the world.

She added that the North-East zone, where Taraba State falls into, has the highest maternal mortality rate when compared with other geo-political regions in the country.

The First Lady said the advocacy visit is to sensitize policy makers, womenfolk and the public of the need to ensure that pregnancy and delivery do not pose threat to lives of mothers and the newborn.

She said the visit was also to encourage children to develop full potential to contribute to the nation's socio-economic development.

Turai called on policy makers, royal fathers, religious leaders and parliamentarians in the country to support policies and laws that could promote good health for women and children in the country.

The First Lady, who commended the effort of the federal government in the implementation of the integrated maternal newborn and child health strategy, said it is a key government initiative toward ensuring universal coverage of maternal, newborn and child health intervention in the country.

She also commended the debt relief funded maternal and child health progress and the midwifery service scheme launched recently in Abuja . The first lady also hailed the world Health Organisation (WHO), Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and other donor Agencies for partnering in this noble course.

In her address, the wife of Taraba State governor, Hajiya Hauwa Danbaba Suntai, said Turai's visit showed that she is a true mother of the nation.

She further commended her for introducing the HIV/AIDS sensitisation visit to rural areas in the country.

Also speaking, Minister of Health, Professor Babatunde Oshotimehin, said as part of government's effort to reduce child and maternal mortality in the country, 2500 midwives were trained recently by the ministry, adding that 96 of them were deployed to Taraba State.