A non-governmental organisation, The Challenge Initiative, has disclosed that Borno has the highest neonatal mortality death ratio in the country.
According to TCI, the NGO said it is sensitising men on childbirth spacing to promote shared decisions between couples on childbirth in Borno State.
Speaking on Wednesday during a media round-table dialogue organised by TCI-DEVCOMS held
In Maiduguri, the state TCI Program Manager, Dr. Yusuf Ahmadu, said about 8 local governments in the state are benefiting from the campaign.
The group, in collaboration with Devcom, expressed serious concern over the maternal mortality rate in the state while stating that involving men was crucial to ensure collaboration between couples on family planning decisions.
“In the whole of Nigeria, Borno state has the highest maternal mortality rate. In every 100,000 women that give birth, 1,437 will die. This was some years ago. However, now it has improved to around 500 and something from the 1437, so we can see the progress of our campaigns.
“We are employing every strategy to complete this advocacy, both formal and informal institutions. If we have our way, we want to reach everyone in these selected local government areas,” he said.
According to him, the campaign which has majorly focused on women is not leaving behind men.
Speaking on the men’s adherence ratio, he said, “It is a gradual thing; many are gradually keying into it.
“Men are very important in the process. We have seen cases where some women are interested, but their husbands decline it. So how can it be effective if the agreement is not mutual? This is why men must be made to also see the importance,” he noted.
On the performance of the campaign, Yusuf said 239,641 persons have been reached.
In his words, “Through our social mobilisation efforts, which we engaged in 11,362 social mobilisation activities, we have reached 239,641 persons across 8 local governments.
He urged media professionals, religious organisations and experts to lend their voices to the family planning campaign to reduce mortality in the state.
“As media, you have a role, likewise the religious body and the government. It is not about when our campaign will stop; we want to see the initiative run even years after we conclude the programme,” he stated.