ActionAid Nigeria tasks FG on child rights

By Chioma Obinna

Wife of the Kwara State Governor, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Saraki has called for harmonization of all campaign efforts made by Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOS), civil Society and partners towards reduction of maternal mortality and infant morbidity in the country even as she advocated for political commitments by all tiers of government with a view to ensure that mothers do not die needlessly during labour.

Saraki while acknowledging that Nigerian Government has made tremendous  efforts in improving the health of women, said improving health care delivery to women and children “is a critical step to achieving all the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), with clear economic, political, and security benefits for countries”.

Saraki who was speaking at the planning meeting of the 15 percent advocacy committee of the Nigerian health campaign on maternal health in Abuja  said  “Nigeria has made progress, however, a lot more needs to be done and nothing works  like when we all come together in unity, each of us allowing his or her own resources, expertise and knowledge to be at the disposal of the others, walking together in unity on the health front will sure bring us home faster. This is the essence of our gathering here today”.

“We are here because too many mothers and newborn continue to die in Nigeria needlessly from pregnant and childbirth-related injuries. We are here because one preventable maternal death is still too many.

A mother’s survival means better Nigeria. we are here to fight the death of our mothers realizing that the death of  mother is the death, literally of otherwise of a lot of families.”

She pointed out that the committee has a clear goal of mobilizing for the reduction of maternal, newborn and child death in Nigeria among other activities which include; to advocate for increased funding for health at all levels, to work ing partnership with maternal, newborn and child health stakeholders to prioritise the actualisation of MDGs 4, 5 and 6, and to advocate for strengthening of health care systems .