Nigerian Government Sets To Tackle Maternal Mortality Ratio, Says Heath Minister

The Minister of Health, Dr. Isaac Adewole, said that President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government is set to tackle the issue of maternal mortality ratio in Nigeria. He disclosed this at the 2015 Family Planning Consultative Stakeholders forum in Abuja.

The Minister also stated that the Nigerian Government has made concerted efforts since the late 1980s to improve access to family planning and other life saving maternal and reproductive health commodities and service, in order to reduce the burden of maternal, child morbidity and mortality. He further said that the government is making efforts in its bid to promote, increase access to quality and affordable FP services as part of a universal coverage initiative. Adding, there is the abolishment of cost system and adoption of free FP Services with plans to make information, services and supplies free to Nigerians in all public sector health facilities across the country.

The Minister noted that Nigeria is committed to significant strategies towards achieving the target of national CPR of 36% by the year 2018 from the subsisting rate of 15 percentas well as  ensure that girls and women of reproductive age have access to life saving family planning information, services and supplies.
He pointed out that the FP 2020 Initiative is to fast-track family planning programmes and service in Nigeria, indicating that it would leverage on the Country Engagement Working Group (CEWG) that was created within the FP2020 governance structure. He also emphasized that the family planning blueprint is in line with the vision of the Federal Government to address the gaps in the provision of high quality FP services in the nation, targeting the contraceptive prevalence rate by the year 2018.

Dr. Adewole informed that the blueprint would provide accurate and comprehensive knowledge of FP methods to every segment of the population, promising to ensure that every state contributes at least 50 percent of the funds it requires for adequate FP service delivery yearly. Adding, this will improve routine data management, collection, collation and reporting on  uses at all levels of the healthcare delivery system in the country to allow for smooth tracking of FP progress. According to him, PHCs, private and faith – based clinics have adequate number and categories of trained staff consistent with national guidelines.

In her remarks at the occasion, the Wife of the President, Aisha Buhari represented by the Wife of the Senate President, Toyin Sarki pledged to support the stakeholders by contributing to the accelerated reduction in ending preventable maternal, newborn and child deaths. She noted that scientific evidence has shown that access to family planning service can reduce maternal death by about 30%.

In his welcome address, Adedepo Ladipo informed that the National FP Consultative Stakeholders Meeting would come out with resolutions that will better the life of mothers and children in the health sector. [FMH]