Neonatal mortality is high in Borno- NGO
By Ladi Dapson, Maiduguri
A non governmental organization, The Challenge Initiative has disclosed that Borno State has high rate of neonatal mortality death ratio in the country.
According to Tci, it is sensitising men on child birth spacing to promote shared decision between couples on child-birth in Borno state.
Speaking on Wednesday during a Media round-table dialogue organized by TCI-DEVCOMS held in Maiduguri, the state TCI Program Manager, Dr. Yusuf Ahmadu said about 8 local government areas in the state are benefiting from the campaign.
The group in collaboration with Devcom expressed serious concern over maternal mortality rate in the state, while stating that involving men was crucial to ensure collaboration between couples on family planning decision
“In the whole of Nigeria, Borno state has the highest maternal mortality rate. In every 100,000 women that gives birth, 1, 437 will die. This was some years ago. However, now it has improved to around 500 and something from the 1437, so we can see the progress of our campaigns.
“We are employing every strategy to complete this advocacy, both formal and informal institution, if we have our way, we want to reach everyone in this selected local government areas,” he said
According to him, the campaign which has majorly focused on women is not leaving behind men
Speaking on the men’s adherence ratio, he said, “It is a gradual thing, many are gradually keying into it.
“Men are very important in the process. We have seen cases where some women are interested but their husbands decline it. So how can it be effective if the agreement is not mutual. This is why men must be made to also see the importance” he noted
On the performance of the campaign, Yusuf said 239, 641 persons have been reached
In his words, “Through our social mobilisation efforts, which we engaged 11, 362 social mobilisation activities, we have reached 239, 641 persons across 8 local government areas.
He urged media professionals, religious organisations and experts to lend their voices to the family planning campaign to reduce mortality rates in the state
“As media, you have a role, likewise the religious body and the government. It is not about when our campaign will stop, we want to see the initiative run even years after we conclude the program ” he stated.
