Agency Commits To Mortality Reduction

Agency Commits To Mortality Reduction

The National Primary Health Development Agency has reiterated Nigeria's commitment to reducing maternal and child deaths and diseases, in line with the five-year benchmark set by the African Union (AU).

Dr. Mohammed Pate, the Director of the agency said in an interview in Abuja that Nigeria was partnering with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) to ensure that the benchmark was realised.

He recalled that the AU had, at its last meeting in Addis Ababa in July, set the benchmark on maternal and child health for member states.

Expansion of midwives scheme

Pate explained that as part of its set strategies, Nigeria planned to expand its Midwives Service Scheme (MSS) to 1,000 Primary Health centres while new clusters had been identified across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

According to him, the country has developed a plan for the integrated measles campaign, as well as strengthening the cold-chain system, while pushing to introduce new vaccines.

He said that best practices were being copied from China, India, Kenya and Ethiopia, resulting in innovations at the primary level.

NAN/Williams/Yinka