Benue government says it will not relent on its focus in providing medical treatment for children under five in remote communities.
It gave assurances of stretching the mission to all local governments in the state.
with over 700,000 deaths recorded annually in the country, Nigeria ranks as one of the highest contributors to under-five mortality in the world
According to a 2013 report by the National Demographic Health Survey, NDHS, Benue State is said to be one of the states in Nigeria with under-five
mortality above national average,
Civil society organizations in collaboration with the Benue state government have empowered four local governments areas of in Benue State to take ownership of their own healthcare by improving knowledge of saving children under five who face imminent death.
The death were traced to preventable childhood illnesses such as Malaria, Pneumonia,Diarrhea and severe acute malnutrition.
The special adviser to Benue State Governor gave assurances that the state government will stretch the the mission from the four local government to the remaining 19.
Beneficiaries of the outreach also testify that the death rate of under 5 children had dropped since the commencement of the initiative.
The four local government empowered include Konshisha, Kwande, Obi and Okpokwu.
Despite successes recorded in Benue State, the health indicators still place Nigeria as one of the highest contributors to under-five mortality in the world, implying that more work needs to be done.
