UNICEF/NOA advocates EFPS as panacea to maternal mortality

UNICEF/ NOA has said that to arrest maternal mortality rate in Nigeria, women should embrace the Essential Family Practices (EFPS).

The advice was given by Ngozi Okechukwu, Abia State director of National Orientation Agency (NOA), at Ibinanta, Igbere in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State, during the Social Mobilisation Technical Committee of the Agency informed the women that UNICEF emphasises on the safety of women.

Meg Onwu, director, Health Education, Abia State, encouraged pregnant women to register for antenatal services in any government Health Centre close to them and warned that taking traditional drugs, as well as giving birth outside hospitals/ maternities was dangerous.

Chinwe Eke, the baby

friendly initiative officer, also advised nursing mothers on the need to breastfeed their children well; stressing that breastfeeding protects the child from diseases.

She described breast milk as a complete food and emphasized on the need for mothers to position their babies well during breastfeeding. Felicia Dimgba, president general of Igbere Women Association, home branch, and Mercy Ejieke, secretary, commended the SOMTEC committee for coming to give them vital information concerning their health.

The duo, who equally thanked UNICEF for its efforts in ensuring that women are no longer victims of mortality, described the programme as very apt.

Rose Ekeoma, a retired health officer, expressed her joy over the content of the lectures by SOMTEC members and disclosed that she had been preaching to nursing mothers to go for antenatal on time.