The federal government has emphasized the need for homegrown solutions to address maternal and infant mortality rates in Sokoto State and beyond.
Salma Ibrahim, the Special Adviser overseeing the Presidential Advisory Committee on Health, made this recommendation during a courtesy visit to Governor Ahmed Aliyu on Thursday.
Ibrahim revealed that Sokoto State continues to grapple with the highest burden of maternal and infant mortality in the country. She highlighted alarming statistics, noting that a significant number of newborn deaths occur in the state.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics survey in 2018, 44 out of 100 newborn babies in Sokoto State perish, compared to the national average of 34.
“73 per cent of pregnant women do not have access or decide not to go for antenatal care for reason best known to them, and if you don’t attend ANC it means that if there is a problem you will not know.
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“And women that can deliver by stillbirth attendants (those that are trained like nurses and midwives) in Sokoto state, you will see that, they are very low, 27 per cent out of more that 50 delivery per 100. So sir, it is cause for concern for us,” she said
She noted that there was an increment in family planning in the state which she said would reduce maternal death.
Mrs Ibrahim said that the President was concerned about the health of women and children in the country, the reason why they came up with an accelerated emergency plan to address the menace in the country.
“So we want to get the state commitment to accelerate the reduction in maternal death with you as the chief advocate.”
TheWitness
