Nigeria calls for steps to reduce mother, child mortality

Abuja, June 15 (IANS/MAP) The Nigerian government has called on states and healthcare agencies to redouble their efforts on reducing maternal and infant mortality in the country.

National Primary Health Care Development Agency's Executive Director Faisal Shuaib said on Thursday that whatever primary healthcare agencies were doing in their states was not working.

He said that Nigeria's poor health outcomes in critical areas had shown in high death rate of pregnant women and also of children under the age of five.

"We are expected to deliver on results and we will be held accountable for our performance and most important evidence of our performance will be seen in the reduction in deaths of pregnant women and children."

Shuaib tasked all state heads of Primary Health Care Agencies to open up on their challenges with a view to provide practical solutions to them.

He said that primary healthcare remains the foundation for making reasonable and sustainable changes to the poor health indicators.

Shuaib pledged to continue working with states to strengthen routine immunisation, vaccine development, development partner support for PHC interventions and human resources optimisation, among others.

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