Soludo, the spouse of the Governor of Anambra State, has expressed the state’s ambition to secure the top spot in the upcoming under-5 Mortality Ranking in Nigeria.
In the most recent assessment by the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and BudgIT Nigeria, Anambra State was positioned as the second state with the second-highest under-5 mortality rate, trailing only behind Lagos State.
The state’s under-5 mortality rate was recorded at 22 per 1000 births, a slight margin from Lagos.
Soludo, in response to this ranking, stated that it serves as an encouraging development in the state’s efforts to substantially reduce infant and maternal fatalities, aiming for near-zero numbers.
She said: “Glad to announce that our dear Anambra State has just been ranked second as the state with the least Under-5 Mortality figures in Nigeria. This is a massive boost for us in the advancement to achieve a near-zero count on infant and maternal deaths in line with the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”
She maintained that the present government will aim to rank first in subsequent rating and will invest more in it’s health sector. “While we aim to rank first in subsequent ratings, we’ll continue to invest in the strength of our health sector to make it globally competitive” she concluded.