Rivers Set To Tackle Infant, Maternal Mortality

The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has declared that the state government will implement strategic programmes to reduce infant and maternal mortality in the state.
Speaking at the Government House, Port Harcourt, yesterday, when he received the Head of United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), Mr Wilbroad Ngambi, Wike said that the current percentage of infant and maternal deaths remain  unacceptable.
Wike said there is the  need  to  address the  issue, with a view to reducing  it to the  barest minimum.
He said that  his administration gives priority attention to health issues,  especially when the health of  children  and  women is involved.
The governor noted that the state government will release the  necessary  counterpart funds to UNICEF to enable the organisation implement relevant programmes that will improve the living  condition of the people.
He said: “we will  collaborate with UNICEF  to improve  the living  condition  of  our people,  especially  in the  area of reducing  infant  and maternal  mortality “.
The  governor  directed the  Ministries  of  Water Resources and Environment  to work  with  UNICEF  to assess the communities  that will benefit  from  the  water and  sanitation projects.
Earlier,  the  Head of United Nations Children Fund, Rivers State Office, Mr Wilbroad Ngambi, had stated that the new office  will coordinate activities  in  Rivers State, Akwa Ibom, Delta and Bayelsa states.
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