UNICEF-assisted MHCHW has reduced mortality among women, children

As the 14th round of the United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF) assisted Maternal New-Born and Child Week (MNCHW) program ends in Bayelsa, the state Ministry of Health says the program has been able to reduce the high morbidity and mortality rate of mothers and children in the state by 20 percent.

Dr. Tonbara Sigha-Ekere, Director, Primary Health Care Department of the Ministry of Health, says though there was more to work do as mothers and children are still dying through preventable ailments, the intervention of UNICEF, the state government and local government has brought the high rate to a manageable level.

Research has shown that every single day, Nigeria loses about 2,300 under-five year olds and 145 women of childbearing age, making the country the second largest contributor to the under–five and maternal mortality rate in the world.

According to the research it is even more devastating especially in the knowledge that essential interventions reaching women and babies on time would have averted most of these deaths.

Speaking with The Guardian, Dr. Sigha-Ekere, said the program, which is held every six months was delayed in the state due to some logistic problems during the pre-implementation period.

Also speaking, the Director, Nutrition, Mr. Robinson Berigha, decried the level of poverty in the communities which has a left a devastating number of malnourished children as their parents cannot afford to give them food to aid their growth.