Lokoja — Kogi State Governor Idris Wada said yesterday that the state is considering reduction of the cost of medical treatment for pregnant women and children across public health institutions in the state.

Governor Wada, who stated this yesterday in Lokoja at the flag-off of Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week, said the reduction would cover pregnant women and children under the age of five.

He said the programme is a critical health strategy as maternal death and infant mortality rate is on the increase.

"In Kogi State, though it is difficult to ascertain the exact number of new born babies and women who died during and after child birth, it is obvious that maternal mortality rate is on the increase. To reduce this, my administration has put in place a comprehensive health policy that will address the health needs of the people with special focus on vulnerable persons like women and children," he said.