Miffed by the alarming increase in cases of maternal and child mortality in Nigeria, the Rotary International, Nigeria has called on stakeholders to redouble their efforts towards curtailing the trends.
Rotary Reproductive Maternal and Child Health Nigeria, Country Director and National Coordinator Professsor Emmanuel Olufadeji made the call at a 2-day programme organised for some selected journalists in Ekiti state.
Prof. Olufadeju noted that the World Health Organisation (WHO) had put the global number of under five children’s deaths at approximately 5.9million annually due to malnutrition, poor healthcare and inadequate sanitation.
The Rotary Country Director noted that in Nigeria, the statistics are alarming as maternal mortality stands at 993 deaths per 100,000 live births, representing one of the highest in the world.
He added that this translates to over 700 women dying daily from preventable pregnancy and children complications.
Professor Olufadeju urged pregnant women, nursing mothers and fathers to patronise skilled birth attendants and well equipped health facilities for safe delivery and better care for infants and children.
The Rotary National Coordinator said that most deaths occurring during childbirths are attributable to seeking healthcare services from quacks and non-qualified healthcare providers.
“As Rotarians, we are committed to reducing maternal and child mortality rates. We believe that every mother deserves a safe journey through motherhood and every child deserves a healthy start in life”. He explained.
Prof. Olufadeju that the workshop was organised to sensitise journalists on the need to engage the communities on a critical issue that affects all people, reducing maternal and child mortality in Nigeria.
He added that Journalists have power to shape public discourse, influence policy and inspire action through their various platforms.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health and Human Services Ekiti State, Mrs Olusola Gbenga- Igotun noted that the Ekiti state government has made efforts at reducing deaths of mothers and children in the state.
Mrs Gbenga-Igotun disclosed that the Ekiti State government has invested so much on children’s vaccination, made family planning commodities available as well as encouraged women to do family planning, and renovate health facilities across the state.
“The government believes that no life should be lost by any pregnant woman while trying to give birth to another life “. She stated.
The Permanent Secretary urged the participating journalists and other journalists in the state to use their platforms to raise awareness, promote action and inspire change to improve the health and well being of mothers and children across the nation.
Reacting, one of the participants and Chairman Nigeria Union of Journalists Ekiti State Chapter, Mr Kayode Babatuyi assured the organisers of commitment of journalists in the state to give adequate publicity to the menace of maternal and child mortality in Nigeria.
