Kaduna (Nigeria) – The high rate of maternal and child mortality in Nigeria has been attributed to the continual decline in the quality of health care services provided across the country.
Nigeria remains one of the countries of the world that still records high maternal and child mortality with about 150 deaths among women of reproductive age dying from complications arising from pregnancy – and over two thousand children below the age of five dying daily also from preventable causes.
This was made known by the team Lead of Development Communication Network (a Non Governmental Organization) Abiodun Owo in a statement issued to Africa Prime news to Commemorate the 2016 Safe motherhood day in Nigeria. The theme for the celebration is; ‘Saving Mother’s and Baby’s lives: A Worthy Investment for National Development’.
These deaths according to Owo are as a result of declining quality of health care services rendered to communities – especially hard-to-reach communities where there is lack of public services.
The statement reads: “The National Demographic and Health Survey of 2013 reveals that coverage and quality of healthcare services in Nigeria is poor. Less than 20 percent of health facilities offer emergency obstetric care and only 35 percent of deliveries are attended by skilled attendant.
“Though many of these deaths are preventable, the quality of healthcare services continues to fall short of standard. Nigeria’s government has made political commitments and pronouncements towards achievement of universal health coverage and access to reproductive health care. The Abuja declaration of 2001 of allocating at least 15% of national budget to health, Maputo Plan of Action (2006) to promote reproductive health services including Family Planning, Every Woman Every Child (EWEC) promise of 2010 to strengthen the health system, and the July 2012 commitment of US$45.4 million to provide reproductive health commodities are a few of such pronouncements.
“Although the government began initiatives targeted at women and children (e.g. Saving One Million Lives, Midwives Service Scheme) the pace of decline in maternal mortality is slow, coupled with declining state of our health care system. These problems continue to linger as a result of lack of political will, poor government prioritization of health (as observed in declining allocation of budget for health), poor planning, coordination, and implementation of projects, lack of or insufficient data, non-effective use of data for planning.
“Preventing maternal death and illness is an issue of women’s human rights. Making motherhood safer requires guarantee of these rights which include their rights to good quality services and information during and after pregnancy and childbirth; their right to make choices freely about their health including childbirth spacing. It also encompasses the removal of barriers that contribute to maternal mortality such as high cost of health care, difficult geographical terrains, non-availability/shortage of essential life-saving commodities.
“With low contraceptive prevalence rate of about fifteen percent, Nigeria continues to record high unintended pregnancies, many of which are resolved through clandestine abortion, despite the country’s restrictive abortion law. Many of these often result in death or disability. Unsafe abortion is a preventable cause of maternal death and can be significantly reduced by ensuring that safe Motherhood programs include client-centred family planning services to prevent unwanted pregnancy, contraceptive counseling for women who have had an induced abortion.
“In order to accelerate efforts towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals, there is need for renewed political will and commitment of resources towards improving maternal and child health care.
“Reducing maternal mortality requires sustained, long-term commitment and the inputs of a range of public and private sector partners. Governments, non-governmental organizations (including women’s groups and family planning agencies), donors, and others should share their diverse strengths and work together to promote safe motherhood within countries and communities and across national borders.
“Programs should be developed, evaluated and improved with the involvement of clients, health providers, and community leaders. National plans and policies should put maternal health into its broad social and economic context, and incorporate all groups and sectors that can support safe motherhood,” the statement noted.
Safe Motherhood Day is celebrated annually in different countries on selected dates. In Nigeria it is celebrated on the 22nd of May. This year, the Federal Ministry of Health could not mark the day as expected and decided that the event should be celebrated on the 23rd and 24th of August 2016.
