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Mrs. Abimbola Fashola (M) addressing participants at the two-day workshop on "Reduction In Maternal Mortality In Lagos" organized by UNFPA.


Mrs. Abimbola Fashola (M) discussing with Mrs. Joke Orelope Adefulire (L) and Mr Rotimi Oyekan during the two-day workshop on Maternal Mortality.

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Apr 7, 2009 - UNFPA Workshop On Reduction In Maternal Mortality In Lagos

It gives me great pleasure to welcome everyone here seated most especially the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Her Excellency Princess Sarah Adebisi Sosan to this very important workshop on reducing maternal mortality in Lagos State organised in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund.

Some months ago, the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Her Excellency, Hajiya Umaru Musa Yar Adua in collaboration with UNFPA organised a workshop on reducing maternal mortality in Nigeria for Wives of Governors to champion this course in our respective states.

Your Excellency, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, maternal mortality is a serious challenge confronting women particularly in sub-Sahara Africa including Nigeria. Of no less importance also are the issues of breast cancer, cervical cancer, gender based violence all of which have continued to place great burden on the shoulders of women with serious social consequences on humanity as a whole.

Today current statistics have shown that 90 percent of the more than 500,000 women who die during pregnancy or childbirth occur in Africa and Asia. Available statistics also indicate that no significant progress is being made in our part of the world towards achieving one of the millennium goals of 75 percent reduction in maternal mortality by 2015.

The purpose of this workshop is to provide a forum for all stakeholders especially policy makers, community leaders, community based organisation to appreciate the seriousness of the issue of maternal mortality and other life threatening health conditions that are peculiar to women. We workshop will also map out strategies for the effective implementation of the action plan which will be a guide for achieving our set objectives in the State.

It is a fact that in Lagos State, a lot of efforts is being put into implementing programmes initiated to address women health issues particularly to ensure that women do not lose their lives while giving life. We however need to do more particularly in the area of effective coordination of our efforts to ensure maximum coverage and result.

Your Excellency, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, women plays vital roles in contributing to the sustenance of the society. The loss, of one woman is a great and irreparable situation not only to her children and husband but also to the larger society. It is therefore very important for all of us to work together and do everything possible to safeguard the health of our women by protecting them against avoidable deaths by agreeing to work as a team and saying “yes, we can safe a woman today”.

Once again, I welcome Your Excellency, distinguished ladies and gentlemen.

God bless you all.

Her Excellency
Mrs. Abimbola Fashola
First Lady of Lagos State