Traditional cultures and norms contribute to maternal deaths, says UNFPA.

Juba, 24th November 2017. Cultural norms and beliefs in South Sudan are contributing to maternal deaths, says Deputy Country Director of United Nations Population Fund or UNFPA.
Wilfred Ocean says cultural norms deny usage of available services of family planning and increase a number of child marriage in South Sudan.
He says they plan to involve media practitioners to engage community members to minimize deaths among expectants mothers in South Sudan.
Ocean stresses the need for the media to enlighten widely local communities to minimize maternal deaths and child marriage among other harmful practices.
Rachael Achol of Union of Journalist of South Sudan admits that many girls are not able to access education due to harmful practices in communities.
She says the public needs to talk about harmful traditional practices so that girls can have a brighter future.
The speakers made the remarks during a one-day workshop for 20 journalists organized by UNFPA on Wednesday in Juba.