Executive Director of LISDEL, Mrs Juliana Aribo, stated this in Gombe on Wednesday when the organisation, alongside government officials, paid a courtesy call on the governor’s wife.

She said that the organisation was in the state to work with the government, office of the governor’s wife and key stakeholders to identify women who would lead advocacies on primary healthcare and RMNCAH-N.

Aribo said that the objective of the organisation was reduction of maternal and neonatal, child and adolescents morbidity and mortality through the provision of timely, safe and effective healthcare services.

She said that it was also aimed at promoting universal access to comprehensive maternal, child and adolescents reproductive healthcare.

The executive director quoted the last National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) as revealing that out of every 1,000 live births in Gombe, about 130 died before they were five years old and that 550 women, out of 100,000, died in the process of child birth.

She said that the mortality was as a result of inadequate access to affordable quality healthcare service, adding: “global benchmark indicates that mortality, in this regard, should not exceed 25.”

Aribo commended the state government for the progress made towards improving child’s survival and safe motherhood through provision of ready-to-use therapeutic food, treatment of severe acute malnutrition and sustenance of family planning in the state.

Responding, the governor’s wife expressed her readiness to partner with the organisation toward achieving its desired goal.

She expressed her passion for health issues, particularly those affecting women and children.

“This is because I am also a mother, and our programme to support gender issues is visible.

“On this note, I want to assure you of my support in that regard because maternal mortality is an issue of serious concern,” she said.

In his address of welcome, Commissioner for Health, Dr Habu Dahiru, said that the organisation was in the state on a high-level advocacy on issues affecting children and women.

He said that LISDEL was working in three states: Kaduna, Lagos and Gombe on issues affecting and to lead in the area of advocacy in order to achieve the desired objective.