Improve health for Nigeria women and children, Political Aspirants Urged

A coalition of women and children's health advocacy groups has challenged political office aspirants to explain details of their maternal and child health plans to the electorate especially at this period of electioneering.

Partnership for advocacy in Child and Family Health Coalition (PACFaH) a public advocacy group said at a press briefing in Abuja that it was drawing attention to the inadequate funding of key interventions meant to save the lives of women and children as the world approach the end of the Millennium Development Goals.

Mrs. Chinwe Onumonu, a member of the group who is also director of Family Planning Sector Lead Project who addressed reporters at the briefing lamented what she described as the dire status of health of women and children in the country.

Political parties and their aspirants "have to share a realistic plan, for Nigerians in order to improve the poor reproductive maternal Health indices in Nigeria".

The group reiterated the imperative for the health sector to review how well the nation has fared in reaching these goals, especially the health related MDG goals. It also called on the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly to ensure that budget lines for MNCH are created.

Stressing that if Nigeria must achieve its goal of being one of the top 20 economies by 2020, Onumonu said "the government has to commit to improving the health and wellbeing of Nigerians".

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***Reported by Stellamaries Amuwa for PR Nigeria
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