Health ministers from West Africa meet to address maternal mortality

A meeting of health ministers from ECOWAS member countries has kicked off in Abuja.

The meeting, which is held annually, is organised by the West African Health Organisation (WAHO).

Speaking with journalists at the ECOWAS secretariat on Tuesday, Kofi Busai, director of primary health at WAHO, said this year’s meeting is looking at ways to reducing maternal mortality in the region.

Nigeria currently has an alarming incidence of maternal mortality. According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNPFA), Nigeria is responsible for 10 percent of the global burden of maternal mortality. It is estimated that 111 Nigerian women die during childbirth daily.

Busai said the organisation was zeroing in on strategies to curbing the high prevalence of the challenge in West Africa.

He said resolutions at the meeting would be adopted by participants for ratification by their home countries.

“Our main focus is to contribute to the reduction of maternal mortality rate in the region. All our attention is set on that,” he said.