By Muhammed Ibrahim
Kaduna (Nigeria) – A group of five Non Governmental Organisations under Strengthening Advocacy and Civic Engagement (SACE) project, lamented the high rates of maternal death in Nigeria.
According to them, the rate at which women are dying during childbirth is alarming.
Speaking Thursday during an advocacy meeting at Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna state, northwest Nigeria, representative of the group, Hajiya Hauwa Lawal Saulawa said there is the need to Save pregnant women in the society.
She said they were at the local government to meet with the officials on measures to tackle the menace of women and child deaths.
“We feel it’s not proper for women to continue dying during child birth. Today, we discovered that rate of women dying in rural areas are higher than those dying in urban areas.
“This is why we selected two wards Zangon Aya and Afaka in Igabi local government to train Ward Development Committees on areas of reducing maternal mortality,” she said.
She added that what they were doing at the local government was a pilot scheme on improving the health sector.
Saulawa also added that about five organizations were under the SACE project and their aim was to save pregnant women and children.
In his remarks, District Head of Afaka. Malam Aliyu. Abdulwahab described the involvement of Civil Societies in the fight against maternal mortality as a welcome development.
He urged the group to ensure that they sustained the project, promising to support them to achieve their goals.
Representing the Council Chairman, Director Health Department of the council, Hajiya Binta Mohammed commended the group for their interest in saving women lives.
“Thank you for selecting Zangon Aya and Afaka ward for the pilot scheme. We will surely support you in your effort to protect out pregnant women during childbirth,” she said.