…As Otti’s wife reaffirms commitment to reducing infant deaths
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Abia State has recorded a major improvement in maternal health, with the maternal mortality rate dropping from 1,114 to 136 per 100,000 live births.
Executive Secretary of the Abia State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Kalu Uche Kalu, announced the development during the flag-off of the 2025 Round Two Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW) in Umuahia.
Dr. Kalu, however, expressed concern over the state’s under-five and perinatal mortality rates, which currently stand at 69 and 129 per 1,000 respectively. He stressed that the figures remained unacceptably high and demanded urgent intervention.
According to health statistics, a study conducted between 2012 and 2016 placed Abia’s maternal mortality ratio at 1,114 per 100,000 live births. The figure declined to 532.3 in 2023, before a recent Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) report indicated a further drop to 136 per 100,000 births in 2025, signaling ongoing efforts by the state to tackle maternal deaths.
As part of measures to curb infant mortality, Dr. Kalu announced that free immunisation, vitamin A supplementation, deworming, antenatal care, and family planning services would be available across all wards in the state.
Declaring the exercise open, Abia First Lady, Mrs. Priscilla Otti, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to improving maternal and child health outcomes. Represented by the wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adaeze Emetu, the First Lady described the MNCHW as another significant step toward reducing preventable maternal and child deaths statewide.
She acknowledged the progress made so far but stressed the need for sustained efforts to protect mothers and newborns. Mrs. Otti urged health workers to strengthen their skills, improve communication with clients, and maintain professionalism to ensure that health facilities fulfil their mandates.
She called on mothers, caregivers, and pregnant women to take full advantage of the week-long free services, including vitamin A supplementation and multiple micronutrient supplements for expectant mothers who missed the June round.
The First Lady also urged traditional rulers, community leaders, and the media to intensify sensitisation to ensure no mother or child is left out.
Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Uche, in his remarks, noted that Nigeria accounts for 29% of global maternal deaths, describing the statistic as unacceptable. He commended the Otti administration for implementing policies and programmes demonstrating strong political will to reduce maternal and child mortality. According to him, the ongoing upgrade of Primary Health Centres (PHCs) across the state is improving access to quality healthcare.
Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Maureen Aghaukwa, described the flag-off as a call to action and urged stakeholders to support government efforts to reduce maternal and infant deaths. She said the initiative was particularly targeted at extending healthcare to rural communities.
Representing the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Kelechi Nwaneri-Udo pledged the agency’s continued support and commended the state for its progress in the health sector. A World Health Organization (WHO) representative, Dr. Izuka Michael, also restated the organisation’s commitment to partnering with the state to reduce maternal and newborn mortality.
Abia State Nutrition Officer, Mrs. Nmerechi Ofoegbu, advised mothers to adopt nutritious local diets to improve household health and praised development partners for supporting the 2025 MNCHW rollout.
The event featured the administration of vitamin A supplements to children aged 0–5 years and the distribution of gift items to participating mothers and children.
