Women Affairs Minister says Nigeria steps ahead on material mortality

ABUJA (Women Affairs Ministry Report)

“Nigeria is currently witnessing a steady progress in the reduction of the erstwhile alarming rate of child and maternal mortality in the country,” the  Minister of Women Affairs, Zainab Maina told the Country Director of IPas Nigeria, Lola Mabogunje in her office on Friday, April 11, 2014

According to the Minister, the nation is half way towards meeting the 2015 target for infant mortality rate and one-third from the less than five years mortality rate. On the maternal mortality rate, the Minister disclosed that the number of women dying during childbirth has reduced drastically to 350 per 100,000 live births in 2012 as against 800 and 545 figures recorded in 2004 and 2008 respectively.

She further revealed that these successes were recorded as a result of deliberate interventions from her Ministry and other line government ministries and agencies, as well as development partners. Adding, her Ministry had intervened in the provision of ambulances and boat ambulances to the riverside areas for the purpose of maternal mortality intervention services.

Zainab Maina also noted that ‘Mama Kits’ were distributed during advocacy visits to various States and support was given to the training of specialized health personnel. She stated that delivery kits were distributed to indigent pregnant women, aimed at realizing safer birth deliveries. Social mobilization campaigns and advocacy, she explained were undertaken at national and state levels for improved maternal mortality.

“These actions helped tremendously in the steady progress we are currently witnessing as compared to previous years with respect to the rate of child and maternal mortality in Nigeria,” she stated.

Other intervention strategies which contributed to the success story, according to the Minister, include the introduction of the Integrated Maternal and Child Health Strategy, Midwifery Service Scheme, the Conditional Cash Transfer for Pregnant Women to encourage skilled birth attendants, immunization for children and the SURE-P Maternal Project, among others.

The Minister expressed regret that although the number of maternal deaths had declined greatly, progress has remained slow; saying there are growing disparities in knowledge about access to reproductive healthcare, particularly among the poor and rural women.

While commending IPas for its contributions to the successes so far recorded, the Minister called on the agency to redouble its support to the Ministry, in order to achieve the success required to achieve women’s reproductive health and rights in the country.

The County Director of IPas Nigeria, Lola Mabogunje decried the alarming increase of rape cases in Nigeria with 78 reported cases between January to March 2014 alone, adding that there are many more unreported cases. She assured that her agency will continue to work with the Nigerian Government to address challenges such as increase in its traditional support programmes on reproductive health, maternal mortality and child morbidity.