Nigeria loses about 2, 300 children who are below five years of age and 145 women of children bearing age every day.
Deputy Director, Maternal, and Child Health project of the Society for Family Health, Mrs Bolanle Oyebola, said this yesterday during the health outreach organized by the Lydia Dolapo Komolafe Foundation at Wukara community of the Federal Capital Territory.
Over 200 members of the community received free malaria, HIV and vital signs screening during the exercise.
Oyebola said the northern states bear a large percentage of the burden due to minimal skilled attendance at birth, cultural beliefs and behaviors not conducive to the health survival of the newborn and mothers, as well as economic position of the communities among others.
She advised against delays in seeking care for pregnant women, and also enjoined the residents to ensure healthy timing and spacing of pregnancy.
Volunteer Coordinator of the Lydia Dolapo Komolafe Foundation, Mrs Patience Ekeoba, said Wukara community was chosen for the outreach because it lacks basic health services despite being within the heart of the FCT.
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