State governor, Captain Idris Wada, who made this know yesterday while speaking at this year’s safe motherhood celebration in Lokoja, the state capital, said safe motherhood is a must for pregnant women in the state.
Wada, who was represented by the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Idris Omede, said the state government has carried out safe motherhood activities through encouraging antenatal care attendance, skilled birth attendant, free counselling and testing for HIV/AIDS, free contraceptive distribution as well as the distribution of long-lasting insecticide nets to women.
He added that the state also embarked on routine immunisation coverage for women and quarterly free rural medical service in the grassroots, while necessary facilities to ensure safe mother and child delivery have been provided in all the general hospitals and primary healthcare centres across the state.
The governor said the state has made significant progress in maternal health care by embracing the Federal Government’s Midwifery Service Scheme, which he said has led to positive impact in reducing maternal mortality rate in the state.
He added that safe delivery and maternal mortality is the key aspect of Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, saying that it has been the greatest challenge in Nigeria and the world at large.
