Plateau State Governor, Mr Simon Lalong.
By Marie-Therese Nanlong
Jos – The Sustainable Development Goal, SDG three talks about good health and well-being for all. Among other things, it targets that by 2030, global maternal mortality ratio would be reduced to less than 70 per 100,000 live births and universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programmes would be ensured.
Ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being is essential to sustainable development; to reduce maternal mortality ratio; ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services; national action by governments, the private sector and civil society are needed.
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Data from the World Health Organization, WHO confirms that maternal mortality ratio in the country is 814 (per 100,000 live births). North Central region where Plateau State belongs contributes to “a very high rate” of this menace and contributory factors include lack of access to qualified health personnel, lack of effective child birth spacing among others.
Recently, the State Ministry of Health, The Challenge Initiative, TCI and Development Communications, Devcoms network in a collaborative effort unveiled at a workshop the need for stakeholders to key into effective family planning as a tool for sustainable development and pointed out the need for improved media involvement in reducing maternal and child mortality in the country.
In their separate presentations, the facilitators, Akin Jimoh of Devcoms, Dr. Philemon Yohanna and Winifred Zechariah both from TCI all underscored the importance of family planning in maternal health and family well-being.
Our correspondent’s visits to Bukuru Central Primary Healthcare, Bukuru Express Primary Healthcare all in Jos South Local Government Area as well as Primary Healthcare Centre, PHC, Tudun Wada and PHC, Jos Township all in Jos North local government area revealed the eagerness of women to embrace family planning despite the challenges of unmet needs and poor health infrastructure.
Amina Usman, Aisha Idris, Gloria Bala and Naomi John all stated effective involvement of all stakeholders in issues of family planning will have positive impact not only on women and children but on the entire family and the society at large as strong and healthy mothers will raise healthy households.
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As the world celebrates this year’s international women’s day with #ChooseToChallenge, the state government and other relevant stakeholders are challenged to focus on funding of family planning activities in the State, improve uptake of family planning services by creating adequate awareness among women and support with provision of both family planning commodities and consumables because with these, significant progress can be made in saving the lives of thousands of women who need to plan their families and stay healthy.
