Kaduna – A Coalition of NGOs in Kaduna State has called on Gov. Nasiru El-Rufa’i to provide special funds for child spacing programmes in the state.
Mr Emeka Nwachukwu, Health System Adviser of one of the NGO’s, Futures Group, made the call while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Kaduna.
He said child spacing was necessary as it would improve the well-being of women and children.
“ Improvement in birth spacing in Kaduna could contribute to saving almost 29,000 children’s lives
“We intend to achieve better health for women because if our women live healthy life, our children will also be healthy.“
He added that women need quality health service delivery so as to reduce maternal mortality in the state.
“ Health indices have not improved in the state going by the survey conducted in 2008 on maternal mortality. We feel it should be strengthened because we need better health services in the state.
“ We want to work and make sure that next time it will be measured in 2018, the situation will change .“
Nwachukwu urged the governor to improve access to child spacing in the state and create a budget line.
He said that Futures group hope to achieve better health for women in the state, so as to enhance their contribution to the economy.
Dr Okai Haruna of Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria (PPFN) also said the government should create a budget line for accerating child spacing activities in the state.
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“Many women do not have access to quality health facilities, so we want to ensure good health infrastructure and do away with the challenges facing the health sector.
“we are targeting 36% come 2018 in the health sector and quality health service providers .”
Also, Shehu Mohammed, Chairman Initiative for Social Sector Advocacy (ISSA) urged the state government to work with the federal government blue print goal adding that it will help.
“ If Kaduna achieves its blue print in the health sector, the state could save the lives of more than 4, 300 women under the current situation.“
He said improvement in child spacing would save women from unintended pregnancies and maternal death. (NAN)
