The Federal Ministry of Health has encouraged nursing mothers to refrain from using traditional medicine and other concoctions in neonatal care, to mitigate neonatal morbidity and mortality rate. The statement was made by the Chief Health Educator, Family Health Department, Mrs Ezioma Madu at a one day advocacy programme in Umuahia, Abia State.
It was organised by the ministry in partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO), for health officers in the state. \
Madu stated the the consumption of concoctions are harmful to both the nursing mother and the new born. Thus giving a list of approved neonatal health commodities being promoted by the ministry. These include ante-natal corticosteroids to accelerate fetal lung maturity, injectable antibiotics for neonatal sepsis, neonatal resuscitation devices for birth asphyxia and four per cent Chlorhexideine for umbilical cord care.
She expressed concern that Nigeria had not recorded significant progress in addressing the high rate of neonatal mortality, blaming the development on factors such as skills gap, poor referral network, inadequate training, poor policy implementation and inadequate supply of the commodities. Also adding that poor financing for the procurement of commodities, shortage and inequitable distribution of health workers and regulatory issues as some of the barriers against improved neonatal care in the country.
Madu called for a combined efforts by all the stakeholders toward ensuring adequate funding and effective application of life-saving neonatal commodities for women and children’s health.
