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WCD: Family Planning Drops Maternal Mortality Rate By 40%, RSG Reveals
The Rivers State Government has revealed that family planning contributes to about 40 per cent reduction in maternal mortality rate in the state.
The state Commissioner for Health, Prof Princewill Chike disclosed this at the 2020 World Contraception Day, observed last Saturday, in Port Harcourt.
Launched in 2007, the WCD is an annual worldwide campaign designed to improve awareness of contraception, with a strategic goal to allow women make informed choices about their reproductive health, in the hope that every pregnancy was intentional.
Speaking at the event, Chike said, “Family planning provides a means whereby family can produce children of choice and not by chance. Access to good family planning means the young girl and her partner are secured and high risk pregnancy could be avoided. Safe family planning could prevent as many as one in every three maternal death as it allows women to space birth, avoid unwanted pregnancy as well as abortion”.
Chike pointed out that there was progress in the state as only 19.6 per cent of married women used modern method of contraception, and reiterated the state government’s commitment to provide women with access to quality information services in all the 328 public health facilities in the state.
“In Rivers State, only 19.6 per cent of currently married women used modern method of contraception. This data shows that although some progress is been made, there is more work to be done.
“The Rivers State Government, through the Ministry of Health and its parastatals, is committed to provide women with access to quality information and services in their public health facilities in the state in partnership with several non-governmental organizations.
“In line with the new vision for healthcare development, you are conveniently invited to access family planning in all the 328 health facilities across the state, despite the Covid-19 pandemic”, the commissioner noted.
He said that there were economic benefits of family planning, as over 200million women across the world do not have accesses to contraception, and added that Nigeria was working towards contraceptive prevalence of 27 per cent by the end of 2023.
“There are also economic benefits, as economists estimate that every $1 invested in universal excess to protection, saves countries $120 in reduced needs for infrastructure and social spending. Despite global effort, many women and girls still endure challenges and avoid delays in pregnancy.
“As the world population increases, so also there is need for contraception. There are more women and girls who want to avoid uncoordinated pregnancy, and accept modern contraception method”, Chike added.
According to him, “Although some reports show that some progress has been made towards closing the gaps, but there are still over 200 million women around the world without access to contraception, and most of them are in low or middle income payee in the country.
“Nigeria is working towards contraceptive prevalence of 27 per cent by the end of 2023. Right now, the figure stands as 17 per cent”, the commissioner quoted the 2018 edition of the National Demographic Health Survey.
By: Susan Serekara-Nwikhana
Happy Birthday Chief Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON
Honourable Minister Federal Capital Territory
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We’ll Drive Tinubu’s Vision in Rivers With Vigour – Fubara …Inaugurates Dualized Ahoada/Omoku Road ….Debunks Rift With RSHA
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has stated that he will lead Rivers people to galvanize support for President Bola Tinubu to drive the vision and objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda in the State with vigour.
The governor, who joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), on Tuesday, explained that his decision to join the APC was not for personal interest but for the overall benefit of Rivers State.
Fubara disclosed these while inaugurating the extension of the dualized Ahoada/ Omoku Express road in Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
He commended the contracting firm, Julius Berger, for timely delivery of the project, saying the project is a campaign promise fulfilled which will bring economic benefits to the people and tackle issues of insecurity associated with the route.
He said his administration has remained focused in delivering democratic dividends in the state despite facing glaring challenges.
The governor thanked the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas for their continuous support, and urged his supporters to remain steadfast and also support President Tinubu who he said, has demonstrated love to Rivers State as a father.
Fubara denied having rift with the Rivers State House of Assembly, stating that his meeting with the lawmakers was stalled as a result of delay in the agreed meeting to be convened by former Governor Nyesom Wike and other stakeholders for him to meet with the state lawmakers.
“I have made every effort to meet with the Assembly members, but it is not within my leadership to initiate the meeting process.
“The arrangement was for my leader, Wike, and the elders led by Anabraba to call for a meeting with the the lawmakers.
“I’m a gentleman and principled. I can’t go behind to call them when we’ve already agreed. Whoever that tell them that I don’t want to meet with them, or I rejected proposal meant for them isn’t saying the truth,” Fubara said.
The Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry Works, Mr Austin Ezekiel-Hart, who gave the project description, said the delivery of the project was a fulfillment of long time dream by the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas.
He said the road was previously a single lane and has now been dualised to 14.6 meters wide, complete with solar-powered streetlights with drainages.
He said the road significantly would reduce travel time between Ahoada and Omoku while improving economic activity in the region.
In his welcome address, Chairman of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area, Hon. Chuku Shedrack Ogbogu, described the road as a symbol of unity, oneness, and development, thanking the governor for fulfilling his campaign promises.
On his part, the Managing Director of Julius Berger, Engr. Peer Lusbash, said the project was awarded to his company in 2023 with a completion period of 18 months which was achieved in best quality.
He added that Julius Berger enjoyed a good support from the Fubara administration, and assured to complete all ongoing projects being handled by Julius Berger on specification, especially the Ring Road project which is a legacy project.
Rivers State, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, has reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring good healthcare for the people of Rivers State.
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?Governor Fubara stated this when he played host to the Country Director of UNICEF, Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef and her management team in Port Harcourt, last Tuesday.
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?The governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba, said he would continue to provide the necessary facilities in order to ensure accessible and good health care for all Rivers people.
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?”We are constructing new zonal hospitals across the State. The Ahoada Zonal hospital will be commissioned in December and others are near completion.
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?”We are grateful to UNICEF for all they have done and believe we can always work together to care for the vulnerable in the society. We appreciate your physical presence, and believe that your staff working remotely, can also do more virtually. We have a capable Commissioner of Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, to help foster our relationship, communication and greater collaboration,” he said.
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?The Country Director for UNICEF Nigeria, Ms. Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef, assured Governor Fubara of UNICEF’s support to the programmes of the State Government. She appealed that health facilities such as the Oxygen Plant at Eleme Local Government Ares and the New Born Care Units be solarized.
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?”Be assured that UNICEF will continue to work and support the programmes here in Rivers State. We have seen the Oxygen Plant at Eleme LGA which has been effective because of the Public Private Partnership. We appeal that the plant be solarized.
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?”I commend your leadership of the State and assure that we are here to support your effort and assure you that you can count on our support and partnership. Rivers State is one of the states we can showcase how things are working so others can learn,” she added.
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