Forum calls for actions against maternal mortality in Kano, others

The Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has urged the government and people of Kano State to do more to tackle the rising cases of maternal mortality in the state.   Executive Director of the Centre Comrade Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi made the appeal Sunday during the formal launch of a special project on “Fostering Local […]

The Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has urged the government and people of Kano State to do more to tackle the rising cases of maternal mortality in the state.

 

Executive Director of the Centre Comrade Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi made the appeal Sunday during the formal launch of a special project on “Fostering Local Governance Development with Focus on Maternal Health in Kano State”.

 

Gwale and Kumbotso local government areas were selected as the pilot for the project which Zikirullahi said would soon be extended to other parts of the state.

 

He said the huge population of Nigeria comes with some stark and disturbing realities including that Nigeria has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world.

 

“In plain terms, what this means is that in spite of our much trumpeted status as the giant of the African continent, an unacceptably high number of expectant mothers lose their lives in the process of giving birth. Beyond the worrisome statistics that have over the years mirrored the terrible state of affairs on maternal mortality, there is a plethora of touching personal stories, which point to the need for concerted effort towards creative, and people centered solutions to this problem,” he said.

 

He said a close look at recent Maternal Mortality Ratios (MMR) from various studies shows that the figures for Kano State are higher than the averages at the national and geo-political zonal levels.

 

He said that apart from the inhumanity apparent in such a tragic situation, it runs contrary to the spirit and letters of all national and international human rights instrument, which forcefully advocate the right to life, as an inalienable human right.

He insisted that the trend cannot be reversed without the active participation of the citizens and that the project is part of the strategies to achieve that and urged the people to prioritise finding lasting solution to the problem.