The Anambra State Government has inaugurated a committee to strengthen surveillance and response to preventable maternal, perinatal and child deaths.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike, said the State Maternal, Perinatal and Child Death Surveillance and Response (MPCDSR) Steering Committee would help identify the causes and circumstances surrounding maternal, perinatal and child deaths and translate the findings into measures to prevent recurrence.
Obidike spoke in Awka during the inauguration of the committee, attended by health officials, development partners and other stakeholders.
He called for increased awareness among women, families and communities on maternal and neonatal health, stressing that early access to appropriate healthcare services could prevent complications and save lives.
The Commissioner said the state was committed to improving life expectancy and ensuring that women did not lose their lives while giving birth, adding that surveillance of deaths would help identify gaps in healthcare delivery and guide corrective action.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Obiageli Uchebo, said the committee would strengthen the use of evidence from health facilities and communities to improve maternal and child health outcomes.
Uchebo listed antenatal care, skilled birth attendance, referral services, blood banking and emergency response among areas requiring sustained attention.
She stressed that lessons from maternal and child deaths must be properly documented and acted upon to prevent similar occurrences.
The UNICEF representative in Anambra, Mr Stan Osun, reaffirmed the organisation’s support for the state’s efforts to improve maternal, newborn and child health.
Representatives of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Achieving Health Nigeria Initiative (AHNi) also pledged support for the surveillance and response system.
The MPCDSR Desk Officer, Mrs Ijeoma Ikeanyionwu, said selected health facilities with high delivery volumes had been chosen to pilot the system and would submit regular reports to the state for monitoring and response.
She, however, noted that persistent neonatal deaths and discrepancies between District Health Information System and MPCDSR data underscored the need to strengthen the quality of newborn care and accountability at facility and Local Government Area levels.
