Jonathan: Maternal Mortality Rate Has Reduced

President Goodluck Jonathan

By Segun James         

President Goodluck Jonathan has said that maternal mortality rate in the country has drop from 500 in 2008 to 350 deaths per one hundred thousand women.

The president disclosed this while commissioning unveiling the Otuoke Comprehensive Cottage Hospital in Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa State,  Friday.

He said the figure represented 30 per cent reduction in mortality rate  in four years.
“Let me use this unique opportunity to tell Nigerians that as a government we are working extremely hard to meet up our Millennium Development Goals.

“As at 2008, we had 500 deaths of every one hundred thousand women that give birth to children. As at now we have reduced that to 350,” Jonathan said.

The  hospital, which was completed in September 2012 was constructed at the cost N3.5 billion through collaboration between the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Office of the presidency and the Bayelsa State Government.
THISDAY gathered that the hospital would have been commissioned before now, but that it was damaged by the flood that ravaged the community last year.

Following the effect of the flood, immediate repair works were effected to the damaged facilities to ensure that the hospital was fully functional before handing it over to Bayelsa State Government for use by benefiting communities.

The facilities in the hospital include; state-of-the art equipment, a laboratory, mobile x-ray machine GE system, x-ray films and developer for one year, 4D Doppler ultra-sound scanner GE system, accessories for year, two ambulances, compatible fully electrometric theatre tables and surgical accessories and trolleys.

Jonathan expressed the determination of the Federal Government not to relent in its efforts at attaining the MDGs target of 250 per 100,000 women by 2015. “Today’s commissioning event, therefore, not only underscores this commitment, it also represents yet another milestone in our drives towards actualizing the health related components of the MDGs.

“I welcome the collaboration between the Bayelsa State government and the Federal government which has made today’s event a reality. I urge the government and the people of the state to consolidate this collaboration,” he said.

Jonathan restated his commitment to the MDGs, especially in the health sector, saying all hands would be on deck at ensuring that the nation achieved the goals in all the sectors by 2015.
He said:“I recall that the construction of this model hospital began in 2006 as an initiative of the Bayelsa state government, but it was later taken over by the Millennium Development Goals office in collaboration with the Bayelsa State Government.

“It is most gratifying to come and witness not only its completion but its formal commissioning today.
“All this have been made possible by the hard work, diligence and perseverance of all the stakeholders.
“Nigeria, a great country is faced with a number of developmental challenges, which we have tried to confront since inception of this administration two years ago. We embarked on reforms of several sectors of our national economy with a single-minded commitment and determination.

“I am glad to declare that we are making significant progress in all sectors, as it’s evident for all to see.
“The health sector as you are all aware is a cardinal priority of our transformation agenda. Attainment of the universal health coverage as well as provision of comprehensive health care for all our citizens is a goal we have set for ourselves.