Nigerian state aims to meet UN targets on child and maternal mortality

Efforts to ensure a Nigerian state manages to meet its targets on child and maternal mortality are continuing apace, a regional official has noted.

Lagos is currently committed to driving down the number of fatalities among children and mothers if it is to reach its Millennium Development Goals.

The Lagos State Government has therefore been rolling out its Maternal Newborn and Child Health Strategy across local health institutions.

Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, deputy governor of the state, said this has led to pregnant women, nursing mothers and youngsters receiving extra medical care, including "routine immunisation, Vitamin A supplements, growth monitoring and promotion".

Furthermore, she noted that children who are less than five years of age are now able to be de-wormed at local healthcare facilities.

Ms Orelope-Adefulire is hoping that these efforts will help to prevent more than six million child fatalities, as well as 200,000 maternal deaths, over the next three years.