Sokoto govt pledges commitment to improvement of child spacing
The Sokoto State government on Tuesday pledged its commitment to the improvement of health concerns, especially in child and maternal health.
The state Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ahmad Aliyu, made this disclosure at the on- going workshop on Child Spacing Advocacy, Financing and Accountability in Sokoto.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Aliyu represented the state government on the occasion, which was organised by the Health Policy Plus (HP+) Nigeria.
Aliyu noted that the government commitment was to mitigate the high incidence of maternal and infant mortality, which had become undue burden on the health system.
“Sokoto state is the intervention state for this advocacy on family planning. We are going to engage the people by telling them the need for child spacing.
“We don’t condemn the people of their choices but we give them the reason for other options. That way, the message is effectively passed and results can be achieved”.
In his speech, the Country Director, HP+, Onoriode Ezire, said that the gathering was a platform for collaboration between Sokoto State Child Spacing Advocacy Working Group and key public sector decision-makers.
“This will enable them to better understand their roles in governance and accountability, particularly in the context of Primary Health Care under one roof initiative,’’ he said.
The Chairman of the Sokoto State Child Spacing Advocacy Working Group, Dr. Aminu Sufi, called on stakeholders, particularly religious leaders to stick to the tenets of the law, as it relates to child rights in the family.
“It is unacceptable for a woman to lose her life while giving birth and it is equally unacceptable for a child to lose his or her life at infancy.
“Planned child bearing enhances healthy and happier family,” he said.
