First Lady promotes maternal health
By
May 2, 2008, 08:01

The death of women of productive age brings significant economic loss to community development, contributes to poverty and hinders the achievement of sustainable development in Nigeria. The causes of maternal mortality could be prevented with strong political will.

This formed part of discussion in a two-day workshop on the Promotion of Maternal Health organized by the Office of the First Lady of Nigeria in collaboration with United Nations Population Fund UNFPA for the wives of governors.

Nigeria’s First Lady, Mrs Turai Yar’adua, while declaring the workshop open said “it is my expectation that these two- day workshop will be educating as well as empowering: that each of us would return to our states with a renewed impetus to make the death of mothers in our communities a thing of the past”. She further charged wives of state governors to provide strong leadership for Local Government chairpersons and their wives to ensure that this initiative benefits every strata of society.

Statistics reveal that maternal mortality ratio is close to 800 per 100,000 live births, with wide disparities between different parts of the country. Mrs Yar’adua said ‘as a mother and goodwill ambassador on maternal health, I shall not relent until child and maternal mortality is reduced to the barest minimum”.

In addition Mrs Turai stated that for every woman that dies twenty others suffer life long injuries, worse still the children are left to develop without critical maternal care.

The First Lady appreciated the partnership that UNFPA has cultivated with her
Office in implementing the noble venture and look forward to further result oriented collaboration.

The representative of UNFPA, Mr. Sidiku Coulibaly said UNFPA has been involved in working for the survival of the mothers and their children and reducing high maternal and infant mortality within the context of human rights. He said main mandate of UNFPA is to save lives of the vulnerable especially women.

The Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Saudatu Usman Bungudu said ignorance, culture and poverty contributed to maternal mortality, she commended the organizers of the workshop. The Minister of Education, Mrs A’ishatu Jibril Dukku said the understanding and appreciation of maternal health surely comes with education, an educated mother understands the ingredients for healthy living.

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