The Federal Government has said Sokoto State has the highest burden of maternal and infant death in the country.
According to The PUNCH, the Special Adviser in charge of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Health, Salma Ibrahim made it known during a courtesy call on Governor Ahmed Aliyu.
She disclosed that 44 out of 100 newborn babies die in Sokoto State.
“Most of the newborn deaths occurred in the state. According to the NBS survey in 2018, 44 out of 100 newborn babies die in the state compared to the national average of 34.
“73 percent of pregnant women do not have access or decide not to go for antenatal care for reason best known to them, and if you don’t attend ANC, it means that if there is a problem, you will not know.
“And women that can deliver by still birth attendants (those that are trained like nurses and midwives) in Sokoto state, you will see that, they are very low, 27 percent out of more that 50 delivery per 100. So sir, it is cause for concern for us,” she said.
“So we want to get the state commitment to accelerate a reduction in maternal death with you as the chief advocate.
“We want the state to explore key drivers, to find out the root causes why women are not delivery in hospitals and come up with home grown solution. We are commitment to support you,” she pledged.
