NiNPREH partners The Nation on safe motherhood

Government has been urged to wave off delivery fees totally in its hospitals in order to make motherhood safer in Nigeria
This was made known by members of Nigeria Network of NGOs and CSOs for Population and Reproductive Health (NiNPREH), Lagos branch during a courtesy visit to The Nation Newspapers last Tuesday

Speaking on the theme of this year’s Motherhood Day "Stopping deaths of mothers and new born babies ‘Fate in the hands of unskilled care givers," the State Convener, NiNPREH, Deacon Sunday Solanke said ignorance and poverty are the major factors that lead to malnutrition which is contributing to the death of about 60 percent of all mothers and children. He said "NiNPREH is advocating for more attention to be given to safe motherhood, as it affects a large population, especially the poor population".

He speaks further: "We observed that though many people have the opportunity to use the facility and have their babies delivered free of charge, but just only 60 percent of the people take advantage of this and we see some people going to faith homes to deliver because of poverty".

Welcoming the team on behalf of Staff and Management of Vintage Press, Publishers of The Nation Newspapers, The Editor, The Nation on Sunday, Mr Lekan Otufodunrin, urged the team to partner with the media so that their work will be promoted and appreciated. "There is need for you to focus on issues that need to be promoted so as to enjoy more prominence from the media", he said.

In her own speech, the Auditor of NiNPREH, Mrs Grace Hygie Enwerem said the main objectives of NiNPREH are: To empower people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development; to promote an understanding that communities are key to changing attitudes towards issues; and advocate partnership, which will ensure all agencies, stake holders and people to enjoy a safer and more prosperous future.

She added that the group aims at recognising the achievements, addressing the challenges and getting back on track to achieve the millennium development goals and also concentrating on the reduction of child mortality and improving maternal health.


By Niyi Odunmorayo