Lagos Oct. 30, 2023 – Sterling One Foundation has partnered mrh Collective, Sterling Bank Ltd and others to stage a five-kilometre run to check maternal mortality in the country.
The five-kilometre-run took off from I Fitness Gym located at the Admiralty Way, Lekki Phase 1, and ended at the Muri Okunola Park on Victoria Island.
Speaking to newsmen at the event, Mrs Olapeju Ibekwe, the Chief Executive of Sterling One Foundation, said that the five-kilometre walk was designed to save 5000 women from dying while giving birth.
Ibekwe said that statistics showed that between 2005 and 2015 Nigeria lost 600,000 women due to childbirth.
“It is a very, very scary statistic. And today we still have over 80,000 women dying in Nigeria every year just because they want to give life to another person.
“This is not acceptable anymore. And today, mrh Collective in partnership with Sterling One Foundation, and other partners, have come together to take our lead to ensure that more women do not have to die.
“Our families do not have to cry. Children do not have to lose their mothers just because they want to give birth.
“It is a five-kilometre-long run, but is more than a run. It is an opportunity to save lives.
“It costs just N20,000 to provide the consumables to save a woman,” Ibekwe said.
She said childbirth was free in Lagos State.
Ibekwe called on well-meaning Nigerians and individuals to support with just N20,000 to support a woman that cannot afford the consumables for childbirth to reduce the statistic of women dying every day in Nigeria.
“Today, we have over 200 women in Nigeria dying everyday as a result of childbirth.
“It is not acceptable, as a woman, as a mother, myself, why should what gives you joy now bring pain.
“We can all help. And that is why we are calling Nigerians.
“That is why we are calling on Nigerians. For the Nigerians who have come out to join us today to save 5000 women, I am very grateful to you,” Ibekwe said.
She said the number of women dying everyday were not mere statistics, but living human beings who had a family that has brother, communities and families going into mourning every day.
Prof. Bosede Afolabi, the Chairperson and Founder of mhr Collective, decried the number of women dying annually from material mortality.
Afolabi said government could not do it alone, and enjoined well-meaning Nigerians partners to bring the sad development to an end.
According to her, mhr Collective believed that partnership with Civil Society Organisations and well-meaning Nigerians would help to put an end to child mortality in Lagos state.
Over 500 persons including youths and celebrities attended the run in Lagos.
Other partners in the run included giving.ng, Nigerian breweries, I Fitness etc. (GBN)
