Minister of Health, Dr. Osage Ehanire, on Friday, February 26, 2021 said Nigeria’s maternal mortality, reproductive health mortality and child mortality index is one of the worst in the world.
The Nation reports that the minister stated this at a three-day retreat organsied by the House Committee on Health Services.
According to him “Nigeria has one of the worst indices in maternal health, reproductive health and child health; we are one of the worst in the world.
There was a time we were getting over 900 maternal deaths per 10,000 live births. In the last five years, it stagnated because of the investment in the health sector”.
He disclosed that the government has been working to establish a National Emergency Medical Service that will help address the challenges in the sector.
“I have written to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Minister of Finance on the need to set up a Public Health Security Fund to help finance public health in the country”, he said.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Health Services, Hon. Tanko Shanunu (APC, Kebbi), said efforts at amending the National Health Act requires a deep knowledge and understanding of the provision of the Act, as well as identifying the gaps in the Act and bottlenecks associated with implementation.
