That more than 800 women die daily from pregnancy-related cases sounds unbelievable on the surface, but a recent report from a reputable organisation like the World Health Organization (WHO) is real and true.
However, the disclosure is worrisome for a country to be losing such number of lives daily. It puts a sour taste in the mouth of both the citizens and non-citizens alike. And the questions on everyone’s lips will be “how?”, and “why?”
In the search for answers to the above questions, experts in the medical field said that the high rate of women mortality in Nigeria is said to be a complex issue with multiple factors contributing to it, but poor access to healthcare is a significant factor with many women, especially in rural areas lacking access to quality healthcare and this is often due to a shortage of skilled healthcare workers, inadequate facilities, and insufficient equipment, among others.
Many people believe that pregnancy is not a disease and wonder why many women continue to die as a result of pregnancy-related complications. Yes, it is believed that pregnancy itself is not a disease, but that it can pose significant health risks to women, particularly if it is not managed properly.
This was revealed by the Reproductive Healthcare Program Manager in the Delta State Ministry of Health, Dr Weyimi Francis during a stakeholders’ consultative dialogue organized by the United Nations Women Gender Equality and Women Empowerment Coordination Mechanism Platform. The event which held recently in Asaba, the state capital, brought together representatives from leading women-focused organizations and groups.
According to Dr Weyimi, women lose their lives in Nigeria during pregnancy, childbirth or labour, adding that the deaths should not be happening, as safe motherhood is not a privilege but a fundamental human right.
She pointed out that women must have access to quality antenatal care, safe labour and delivery services, and postnatal care, saying “maternal healthcare is free for women, and children under the age of five years in Delta State”, adding that there is no reason for the high number of deaths to persist during and after pregnancy.’’
Disturbed by this revelation of the high women mortality rate among the women folk, Lifestyle talked to some women about it.
Mrs Grace Ibe, an entrepreneur in Asaba, said that it is unacceptable that women in Nigeria are still dying from pregnancy-related cases, despite the country’s progress and development in different fields of human endeavour.
She disclosed that the reality is that Nigeria has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world with approximately 58,000 maternal deaths occurring in 2015 alone, and blamed it on ignorance.
She asked, “How many women know that maternal healthcare is free in Delta State, for example?”, adding that the government and the relevant agencies have a lot to do in this regard to enlighten the populace, especially women on this matter.
To address these issues, she said that it is essential for the government and other relevant agencies to improve access to quality healthcare, particularly to rural areas, adding that this can be achieved by increasing the number of skilled healthcare workers, upgrading the facilities, and providing adequate equipment.
In addition, she said there is a need to address the socioeconomic inequalities of the people through education and poverty reduction programs.
Also speaking, a trader at Ogbeogonogo Market in Asaba said “Madam, na lie to say that maternal healthcare is free in Delta. If e free, we no know why we no go go there to get free treatment. Make the government tell us more about it because na good thing for Deltans; both men and women. Dem no dey hide good thing”. Her confession underscores need for more sensitization/awareness on government policies and programmes, particularly as it affects maternal and child health.
At the national level, the Federal Government is not resting on its oars to address the high rate of maternal mortality. According to a medical practitioner at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Asaba, who did not want to be named, “the Federal Government has taken some steps, and one of the initiatives it has taken is the maternal and neonatal mortality reduction innovation initiative, launched by the Federal Ministry of Health, which aimed to improve access to quality healthcare for pregnant women and new mothers”.
In addition, the medical personnel said that the government has established a 34-member task force to accelerate the reduction of maternal mortality in the country which was inaugurated since 2017.
Also, he disclosed that the government is working with international partners such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) to develop and adapt guidelines and policies on reproductive maternal, newborn and child health, adding that efforts are being made to improve the quality of care provided in health facilities in rural areas.
He recalled that some states in Nigeria such as Kano, Delta and Lagos have introduced initiatives to reduce maternal mortality, including free maternal care and community surveillance on family planning.
He said “Overall, the government is taking a multifaceted approach to address the high rate of maternal mortality in the country’’, adding ‘’soon, all will be well with the health sector”.
