Lara Adejoro
The Federal Government says it will prioritise maternal and child health to reduce maternal and infant death.
This was made known by the Special Adviser to the President on Health Matters, Dr Salma Anas-Ibrahim, at a press briefing in Abuja while speaking on the state of healthcare.
Maternal health refers to the well-being of women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postnatal period.
The World Health Organisation said the most common direct causes of maternal injury and death are excessive blood loss, infection, high blood pressure, unsafe abortion, and obstructed labour, as well as indirect causes such as anaemia, malaria, and heart disease.
The WHO noted that most maternal deaths are preventable when managed in time by a skilled health professional working in a supportive environment.
Globally, in 2021, 5.0 million children under five years of age died, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund.
Infectious diseases, including pneumonia, diarrhoea, and malaria, remain a leading cause of under-five deaths, along with preterm birth and intrapartum-related complications.
Anas-Ibrahim said Nigeria makes up to two per cent of the world’s population but accounts for 14 per cent of the global maternal death burden.
She, however, said President Bola Tinubu is committed to tackling maternal and child deaths.
“We want to see that no woman dies as a result of pregnancy or childbirth. Women have the right to choices available to them to decide the timing of their pregnancies and the number of children they want to have and to have access to immunisation and nutrition for their children so we have children that are very intelligent that will lead the country in the future.
“Lives of mothers are still confronted with a lot of challenges, especially when it comes to pregnancies and childbirth, and care of children under five remains a challenge. But, I want to state here that under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, he is committed to tackling the issue of maternal death and morbidity in Nigeria.
“He has also prioritised maternal and child health in the delivery of healthcare because, without access to healthcare for women, children, and adolescents, we can’t realise universal health coverage,” she said.
Special Adviser stressed that no woman should die as a result of pregnancy, childbirth, or post-delivery.
She added, “Two days ago, the President said he is going to build the capacity of health workers to ensure quality of care. We are committed to improving the health of women and children and reducing maternal and child death to the barest minimum.”
Meanwhile, the Country Director of Pathfinder International, Dr Amina Dorayi said up to 70 per cent of causes of maternal death are preventable.
“That is why we believe that we are in a state of emergency. We believe that it is not fair for anyone, especially females who bring lives to the world to have their lives ended.
“We are happy that this administration is focused on accelerating the reduction of maternal and child deaths. Human resource and financing is important, and everyone should be enrolled in the health insurance scheme,” he stated.
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