By Victoria Ojeme

ABUJA-Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, has declared that the high trend of burden of disease and premature deaths in the country was unacceptable.

The minister, who spoke during the national flag-off ceremony of the November Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week, in Abuja, noted that thousands of women, children and newborns die from preventable causes.

Noting that the burden of disease and premature death was high in the country, he said several factors were responsible for the increase, including low coverage of the eligible population with quality health services and human resource shortage at primary healthcare level.

He said: “The Integrated Maternal, Newborn and Child Health strategy deals with the operational and technical impediments to deliver quality health care to mothers and children using the right strategies and interventions through formalized arrangements to more than 80% of those who need the services in a cost-effective manner.”

“The Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week is a welcomed intervention that would facilitate rapid reduction in maternal and child deaths and contribute sustainability to the achievement of improved health indices for Nigeria.” He added

Speaking at the occasion, the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, who was represented by the Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Hon.Micah Jiba, said that the FCT recently embarked on programmes that will positively impact on the lives of women and children.

According to him, the FCT gave out free Antenatal Care Programme, distributed long lasting insecticide treated nets to households and building capacities of community members for identification and prompt referral for common childhood illnesses.

In his  welcome address, the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Ado Muhammad noted that the problem of delivering quality health care to women and children is both technical and operational.

“It is also more challenging in a situation where the Primary Health Care system is weak, with insufficient basic equipment, materials and manpower to ensure effective functioning.” He stated.