REDUCING MATERNAL MORTALITY RATE IN NIGERIA

Maternal mortality; the death of a woman while pregnant or within forty two days after delivery, excluding accidental causes of death has been a cause of worry to many succeeding governments. Calculated by the number of maternal death related to child bearing divided by live births, Nigeria maternal mortality rate is the second largest in the world.
According to a 2007 WHO report, Nigeria’s maternal mortality rate is about 1,100 per 100,000 live births. Over half a million women die in childbirth annually around the world, according the WHO, Nigeria alone accounts for 10 percent of these deaths. With a population of about 140 million, it means about 60,000 deaths per year.
The factors that gave rise to these staggering statistics are varied. Firstly, the absence of sufficient health facilities in the rural areas. Because of this, many pregnant women chose to have their babies under the care of native midwives, often with concoctions administered on them.
Even when the health centre is available, the dilapidated roads to the centres could discourage anyone from risking the life of a mother, trying to reach the centres.
Secondly, ignorance about how and where a pregnant woman would have access to government provided free maternal health facilities is also a factor. Many women are unaware that government in some states has actually provided free medical care for pregnant women. This might account for the low number of pregnant women accessing medical facilities. According to a study, only 31 percent of pregnant women had access to maternal health facilities during their pregnancy.
Where the centres are available, acute power outages make the maximal use of medical facilities difficult. Some doctors have resorted to keep torch light handy in the event of an emergency.
Added to these is the concentration of medical personnel in urban areas. Because of the availability of basic amenities like water, good access roads and electricity, many medical personnel rather chose to live in urban centres. And since majority of people live in rural areas, a lot of people are denied the services of professional medical personnel.
The response of Nigerians to the problem of maternal mortality has been varied. While some believe it is because of lack of political commitment by the government in power to fulfill its obligations to the people; others think it’s rampant because the few available health facilities are stretched to their limits. Some believe that Nigeria has all it takes to meet the UN’S Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to cut maternity and infant death rate by three quarters by the year 2015. This school of thought believe it’s just the political will and judicious use of resources that would guarantee the attainment of these goals. While others find it unacceptable that Nigeria should be losing her mothers because of lack of adequate health facilities.
It was against this background that President Umar Yar’Adua assumed office in May 2007. Accepting the challenges before him, he pragmatically came up with his now famous 7 point Agenda. A blue print to bring Nigeria out of the doldrums of poverty, unemployment and decaying infrastructure. With a promise to revitalize the health sectors and bring education to a level befitting a country like Nigeria. He has since hired the hands of technocrats to bring his vision to fruition. And with the quality of steps taken so far, it is assumed that this administration would deliver on its promises. The promise of making Nigeria a country of which its citizens would be proud to call their own.
Reeling out statistics without corresponding actions in terms of spirited commitment would amount to an analytical jamboree. It’s on this vein that the committed steps taken by the Minister of Health, Professor Babatunde Osotimehin calls for critical analysis and preview.
His innovative integrated approach of addressing the problem of maternal health is highly commendably. The approach which has in it package a uniform guideline for all states healthcare providers would see State’s Commissioners of Health follow a common framework that will ensure that women receive the best form maternal health care that would significantly reduce the incidence of maternal deaths.
And achieving this honestly does not lay on the single purview of the minister alone, it calls for a collective action of all stakeholders as far as maternal health is concern. With everyone doing his or her own bidding, I manifestly see a drastic reduction in maternal deaths. It shouldn’t be just a government thing but wholesome involvements of all. In my strong opinion, the funding of Health system should be an altruistic involvement of all Nigerians. This can be done in such a subtle manner that the good people of Nigeria cannot feel the bite so harsh. Lets every item bought by every Nigerian carry a ten naira tax on it. Better still, essentials like recharging of phone sets, buying of automobiles, tobacco products, soft drinks, Alcohol, motor fares, and other life essentials.
This can equally be complemented by religious bodies where certain percentage of offerings and sadakas are set aside for maternal health. Contributory gestures of highly placed Nigerians can also go a long way in strengthening maternal health in Nigeria.
The final realization of this initiative can come from the huge contributions of corporate organizations as part of their corporate responsibility packages. Where we have the private partnership of this people as it is been canvassed by Professor Osotimehin, then the perennial scare of deaths recorded in the cause of maternal responsibilities would be a thing of the past.
Already, this altruistic effort is beginning to gain momentum by some individuals as seen by the recent efforts of the Senate Committee led by Senator Iyabo Bello Obasanjo who is lobbying her colleagues to sacrifice personally from their pockets whatever they can give to support the reduction in maternal mortality rate. Her involvement of donor agencies during the celebration of the Mothers Days is the type of personal involvement that is being advocated here.
We can do it because the health of our women is a paramount natural responsibility; we owe them the duty to ensure their well being as they go through the excruciating sacrifices of life for us. With this, we are very sure of reducing the scary statistics of our maternal mortality rate.
Abdullahi O.Haruna Haruspice wrote in from Abuja.