Shuaib made the condemnation on Monday in Abuja, while presenting the agency’s strategic approach to rapidly reduce maternal and child mortality at community levels.
“Every day in Nigeria, approximately 2,300 children under five years die mainly from preventable causes. “Having noted the high rate of maternal, newborn and under-five child mortality and the insufficiency of our efforts to reverse the trend, I hereby declare a state of public health concern on maternal, newborn and child deaths occurring at the primary health care and community levels.
“Childbirth should be a very pleasant experience for mothers and a happy occasion for the family and nation, but when you have to say a prayer instead as though the mothers are being condemned; it is time we take action.