Rivers Primary Healthcare Board Begins Maternal Week Today 

…Says 993 Women Die Out Of Every 100,000 Births In Nigeria

As part of efforts to reduce maternal mortality in Rivers State, the State Primary Healthcare Management Board will kick start a four-day programme on Maternal Newborn And Child Health Week (MNCHW) in the State.

The first round of the MNCHW is scheduled to hold from the 2nd to 6th of June, 2025, and all services provided will be free of charge during the one-week programme.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Primary Healthcare Management Board (RSPHCMB), Prof. Kinikanwo Green, in Port Harcourt.

Green disclosed that statistics from the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2023 showed that the rate of death from pregnancy and delivery related causes (maternal mortality) in Nigeria was alarming.

According to the statistics, 993 women die out of every 100,000 live births in the country.

The statement added that 104.9 percent of children out of 1,000 will not live beyond their fifth birthday, (under the mortality rate).

It stated that a combination of factors including inadequate services are responsible for the high mortality rate, hence the need for the one week-long programme to deliver high impact, cost effective services such as vitamin A supplementation, deworming, immunization, nutrition promotion services, Antenatal care, Birth registration, HIV/AIDS interventions, malaria testing and treatment, among others.

Green explained that these services are important considering their contribution in reducing maternal, Neo-natal and childhood morbidities and mortalities in the country.

He thanked all the partners for their contributions and support, saying “The primary Healthcare Management Board appreciates your continuous support to primary healthcare activities.

“We appeal to you to support the implementation of this week by speaking in support of MNCHW and encouraging members of the public to key into these interventions using your numerous platforms and structures.”

He added, “It is worthy to note that today, the cost of Ante-natal Care and Delivery in Port Harcourt Council are now free of charge.

“Also, health centers have been built everywhere now, so the issues of distance, health workers’ negative attitude have been properly addressed.”

By: Susan Serekara-Nwikhana