Nigeria loses 2,300 children, 145 child bearing women daily’

Nigeria loses about 2, 300 children who are below five years of age and 145 women of children bearing age every day.

Deputy Director, Maternal, and Child Health project of the Society for Family Health, Mrs Bolanle Oyebola, said this yesterday during the health outreach organized by the Lydia Dolapo Komolafe Foundation at Wukara community of the Federal Capital Territory.

Over 200 members of the community received free malaria, HIV and vital signs screening during the exercise.

Oyebola said the northern states bear a large percentage of the burden due to minimal skilled attendance at birth, cultural beliefs and behaviors not conducive to the health survival of the newborn and mothers, as well as economic position of the communities among others.

She advised against delays in seeking care for pregnant women, and also enjoined the residents to ensure healthy timing and spacing of pregnancy.

Volunteer Coordinator of the Lydia Dolapo Komolafe Foundation, Mrs Patience Ekeoba, said Wukara community was chosen for the outreach because it lacks basic health services despite being within the heart of the FCT.

She said the community members have to travel to Kuje Local Government Area to access health services when there are emergency cases or patronise patent medicine vendors.

Ekeoba said the foundation was established to keep alive the memories of Lydia Dolapo Komolafe, a 21-yearold medical student of the University of Jos who died in the 20th May 2014 Jos Market bomb blast.

The foundation enlightened the residents on maternal, child health, air and water borne diseases and care of the eyes.

Shuaibu Maiangwa Wukara, a resident of the village who lost his wife during child birth a few days ago called on the government to establish a health post in the village to enable residents’ access health care, especially at night when they fall sick.