From Tunde Sanni in Ibadan
Former Minister of Health and the Executive Director, United Nations Population Funds, Prof. Babatunde Oshotimehin, has tasked heads of governments in Africa to prioritise maternal and child health in their programmes in the interest of the people. Oshotimehin at the Annual General Conference of the Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria, in Ibadan noted that much still needed to be done in improving the lot of the vulnerable groups. He said that investment into women and children was necessary in ensuring quality of life and sustainable growth.
The UNFPA boss in his keynote address at the conference, themed “Promoting universal access to maternal and newborn health”, lamented that in spite of the high maternal and child mortality rate in Africa, the growth rate is still very rapid and of serious concern.
Governors Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, Emmanuel Uduaghan, Delta; and Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, who were part of the programme, spoke about their health policy thrusts. They however lamented that the pregnant mothers, in their states don't usually deliver in the hospitals in spite of the attendants at antenatal meetings. Earlier, the National President of SOGON, Dr. Tinuola Abiodun-Oshodi, said that the role of government in improving maternal and child health could not be underestimated. She, among other things, recommended increased funding of the health sector, deployment of more health attendants and child education.
The former minister pointed out that health was initially not given prominence in the Millennium Development Goals until seven years after and added that with Africa population put at 7billion, the issue of maternal and child health remained very significant.
He observed, "The population in Africa is going at a progressive rate because of high fertility rate. Our population of seven billion reflects a great stride. This is a reflection of improvement in medical services.
"Our world of seven billion is a wake-up call for all of us to look at issues beyond the number. It is a challenge; it is an opportunity and a call to action." With the progression, he said, it was projected that Africa would add yet another 1bn to its population.
Oshotimehin made reference to Niger Republic where 75 per cent of women under age 15 are married with most of them being illiterate. The women, according to him, give birth to an average of 7 children in their lifetimes. The UNFPA chief warned that unless developing economies reduced the population growth through family planning, the continent would be at risk of being plunged into economic crisis.
Tags: News, Nigeria, Infant, Health, Featured
http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/osotimehin-tasks-african-govts-on-maternal-infant-health/103723/
