Health
Stakeholders in the health sector have called for an improved maternal and child care system in the country, especially in rural communities.
The stakeholders made the submission at the 27th Annual Lift Above Poverty Organisation (LAPO) Development Forum held on Wednesday via Zoom.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the forum was tagged: “Improving Access to Quality Maternal and Child Health Care in Rural Communities: Issues and Prospects”.
Prof Vincent Iyawe, a medical professor, the University of Benin in his presentation, said the future of nations depended upon healthy women and mothers giving birth to healthy children.
Iyawe said maternal, newborn and child health indices in Nigeria were typically worse within the rural areas and should be of great concern.
He also urged improved funding for the health sector by increasing the national budget for health with designated amounts for maternal and child health.
“Maternal and child health must be free in the country and should be an ultimate goal.
“Training and retraining of health workers in rural communities on life saving skills, provision of adequate ambulances and referral systems are ways to improve maternal and child health in rural areas.”
In his welcome remarks, Dr Godwin Ehigiamusoe, the Chief Executive Director, LAPO Group, said the mother and child had been at the centre of LAPO’s intervention due to the high rate of maternal and infant deaths in the country.
Ehigiamusoe said an effective collaboration between the government and non government actors was needed to tackle the high rate of maternal and child deaths in rural communities.
“Efforts of various agencies toward Universal access to health care through responsive health insurance schemes should be redoubled.
“There is an urgent need for private investment in the health sector as well as creation of an informal community -based insurance scheme for the poor and rural dwellers.’’
He also called on the government to check the exodus of skilled health practitioners in the health sector to avert the looming health crisis in the country.
He added that LAPO had been involved in health awareness creation and intervention and was currently involved in Community Campaign for Cancer Control called LAPO-C4.
Also speaking, Chairman of the occasion, Hon. Samson Uwaifo, former Justice of the Supreme Court said LAPO had continued to point out the way to those running the government toward achieving the essence of good governance.
He commended LAPO for its strategic approach in improving the well being of the people by promoting access to micro financing, agricultural programmes, health facilities and social interventions.
Dr Osarenren Emokpae, Chairman, LAPO Board of directors, added that the group had improved the health condition of more than a million community dwellers in the country with various health services, including screenings, health awareness and referrals. (NAN)
– Nov. 18, 2020 @ 16:47 GMT |
Tags: child health care system in Nigeria Stakeholders seek improved maternal
