Delta plans to eliminate female genital mutilation

The Delta State government, through the Ministry of Health, on Monday, resolved to reduce maternal mortality ratio, prenatal mortality ratio and eliminate female genital mutilation.

While the State Ministry of Health last Friday inaugurated 3-committee to collaborate with Non-governmental organisation and Mrs. Edith Okowa’s 05 Initiative, Dr. Nicholas Azinge, the State Commissioner for Health, said that the constitution of the committees was in line with the recommendation of the World Health Organization (WHO), pointing out that all countries on mandate are to establish the root cause of maternal death as a way of improving maternal mortality ratio.

“The National Council on Health approved the establishment of Maternal Death Review (MDR) in 2011 and mandated all states to do same”, the commissioner added.

At the inauguration ceremony held at the Government House, Asaba, Mrs. Okowa, represented by the wife of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mrs. Kevwe Agas, charged the committee to be serious with the responsibility of identifying the causes/reasons for maternal mortality and pre-natal mortality deaths with the aim of presenting subsequent death as well as improving maternal mortality ratio in the state.

The committee include: the Maternal and Prenatal Death Surveillance Response committee (MPDSR), the Advisory Committees on Female Genital Mutilation (ACFGM) and Technical Committee on Female Genital Mutilation (TCFGM), as they were charged with proactive measure that would help get the right feedback from the general public.