‘Govt should prioritise women’s health’

The Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Nonny Ugboma, has called on the different tiers of government to invest more in health care programmes for women.

Ugboma, who spoke at the foundation’s Ward Support Project as part of activities to mark the International Women’s Day, said such an increased investment would reduce maternal and child mortality rates in the country.

She said, “A report by the World Health Organisation states that 830 women die of pregnancy and childbirth-related diseases every day.

“It also noted that 99 per cent of all maternal deaths occur in developing countries like Nigeria and what is more alarming is that a sizeable number of these deaths are preventable.

“ While a majority of these deaths occur within the first week after child birth, many happen because the mothers didn’t have access to pre-natal care.”

According to her, the foundation is collaborating with JNC International and six state governments to provide medical equipment in some public hospitals.

Ugboma said, “We are concerned about how the health of soon-to-be-mothers can be improved and managed; this is why we started the Maternal Ward Support project.

“Through this initiative, we hope to contribute to the provision of unhindered and quality health care services for pregnant women in the country.”

The foundation, however, pleaded with the state governments to ensure the maintenance of such equipment in the hospitals.

The Niger State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Mustapha Jubril, who noted that the government could not fund health care programmes alone, called on other corporate organisations to emulate the gesture of the foundation.

Present at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding were the commissioners for health from Abia, Cross River, Kaduna, Oyo and Sokoto states.