Morning Briefing

Nigeria's "The Nation" examines whether, with three years until the deadline for attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the country will be able to meet the targets of reducing maternal and infant mortality by one-third as set by the U.N. The newspaper provides statistics from UNICEF regarding maternal and infant mortality in the country and quotes a number of health experts, including Edamisan Temiye, chair of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Lagos State Branch, who "said with the rate Nigeria is going, it may not realize its target of one-third reduction of maternal and infant deaths by 2015." According to the newspaper, Temiye cites a "virtually failed" immunization program, a high poverty level, and limited access to education, water, and housing as contributing factors to Nigeria's maternal and infant mortality rates (Adepoju, 1/10).