The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has raised concern over Nigeria’s maternal mortality rate, disclosing that a woman dies every seven minutes during childbirth in the country.
The UNICEF Chief of Maiduguri Field Office, Francis Busiku Butichi, made the disclosure yesterday in Maiduguri, during the symbolic handover of WASHFIT supplies to health facilities in Borno State. He attributed the high maternal deaths to poor hygiene conditions, weak infection prevention systems and unsafe environments in many health facilities across the country.
Butichi said health facilities, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected settings, remain the frontline of defence against disease outbreaks and public health emergencies.
He explained that the WASHFIT intervention is designed to strengthen infection prevention and control, improve access to safe water and promote safer healthcare delivery for women, children and communities. He added that the intervention is targeted at closing critical gaps in water, sanitation, hygiene and infection prevention standards in health facilities.
He further noted that improved healthcare environments would enhance service delivery and working conditions for health workers. “Ultimately, these efforts will contribute to safer healthcare environments, improved working conditions for health personnel and stronger service delivery for communities”, he said.
Butichi reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to supporting the Borno State Government in strengthening health systems and safeguarding the wellbeing of women and children.
Speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Borno State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Prof. Mohammed Arab Alhaji, said the intervention complements government efforts to improve healthcare delivery. He commended UNICEF for collaborating with the Borno State Government in strengthening healthcare delivery and improving the quality of health services across the state.
