20 June 2009
Lagos — Minster of State for Health, Dr Aliyu Idi-Hong, has said 52,900 Nigerian women die annually from pregnancy related complications out of 529,000 estimated global maternal deaths.
He said the indices on maternal mortality in the country was regrettable because they arose from causes that were preventable.
The minister, however, noted that if the girl-child was given proper education, the rate of maternal mortality would reduce in the country, this he said, would empower them to know when and how to access antenatal care.
Idi-Hong said, while successive governments should be blamed for the high rate of maternal mortality in the country, health personnel with negative attitude toward pregnant women should also be blamed.
He said this was because such negative attitude discouraged some pregnant women from attending antenatal clinics where complications could be detected at an early stage.
He therefore, advocated for proper education of the girl child and a change of attitude from hostile medical personnel, as a way of reducing maternal mortality rate in the country.
Idi-Hong also called for skilled birth attendants, particularly in rural hospitals, where he said maternal mortality had become very high.
"To reverse this trend of unacceptable high maternal and infant mortality in the country, there is need to provide skilled attendants during pregnancy, childbirth and post natal period at all levels of health care delivery," he said.
Ealier, UNFPA Deputy Country Representative, Dr Bannet Ndyaubugi, congratulated the Federal Government on steps taken to curb maternal mortality rate in the country, saying they were steps in the right direction.
He said the UNFPA was ready to support the Nigerian government financially and technically to ensure that maternal mortality was reduced to its barest minimum.
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