The Rivers State Government has reiterated its resolve to drastically reduce maternal and newborn deaths, declaring full commitment to the Maternal and Newborn Mortality Reduction Initiative (MAMII) as a strategic pathway to safer childbirth and healthier beginnings for babies.
This assurance was given during the MAMII engagement in Bonny, where government officials, traditional institutions, health professionals and community representatives converged to strengthen collaboration around maternal and child health.
The Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh, said the initiative reflects the state’s determination to place women and children at the centre of healthcare planning. According to her, pregnancy and childbirth should never be life-threatening experiences, stressing that the government is working to close gaps in access, emergency response and skilled care, especially in riverine communities.
Dr Oreh noted that Rivers State has aligned its health systems with the objectives of MAMII, focusing on early antenatal registration, skilled birth attendance and prompt referral of complications. She emphasised that achieving lasting results requires the active participation of communities, traditional rulers and frontline health workers.
Highlighting recent support from the Federal Government, the commissioner announced the donation of two water ambulances to the state, describing them as a critical boost to emergency medical services in hard-to-reach riverine areas. She said the ambulances would help reduce delays in transporting pregnant women and newborns requiring urgent care.
She commended health workers for their dedication and called on community leaders to help drive behavioural change by encouraging facility-based deliveries and timely health-seeking practices.
Participants at the event, including traditional rulers and community members, pledged to support the initiative by promoting awareness, removing cultural barriers and supporting pregnant women within their communities.
Dr Oreh reaffirmed that the goal of the state is to ensure that every mother survives childbirth and every newborn is given a strong and healthy start to life, assuring that the government would continue to invest in policies and partnerships that protect the lives of women and children across Rivers State.
The MAMII programme forms part of ongoing efforts to reduce preventable maternal and neonatal deaths through improved healthcare delivery, community ownership and strengthened emergency response systems.
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