Worried about the challenges of attainment of the fourth Millennium Development Goal, MDG 4, by 2015, stakeholders in the private medical sector have urged government at all levels to initiate policies that would encourage proper antenatal procedure in the country.

Making the call in Lagos recently during the presentation of 150 neonatal resuscitation sets by the Bridge Clinic, Lagos to private medical doctors in Lagos, Chairman of the Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria, AGPMPN, Lagos State Chapter, Dr. Jimmy Arigbabuwo said encouragement of proper antenatal care guarantees survival of a baby as well as safe motherhood.

Arigbabuwo further noted that such policies would not only reduce the deaths of babies at birth but would encourage affordable healthcare delivery in the country.

"It is important for us to restore the confidence of expectant mothers that facilities and skilled professionals are available to attend to their needs whenever they visit the healthcare centre. In terms of resources, it could be very sad to lose a baby after such a period.

"The first few hours of a baby coming out from the womb will determine the survival or otherwise of the baby. Hence, giving life to that baby on arrival is very important. Arigbabuwo said it would be very sad to lose a baby after carrying a pregnancy for nine months," he lamented.

Based on this, he said the association would empower medical practitioners in having resources that are strong enough to have safe delivery and to ensure that the baby is also sent to the appropriate quarters once the attending medical officers realises his limitation, he should know when to refer."