FG urged to provide health facilities in rural areas

The Federal Government has been urged to increase budgetary provisions to the rural areas across the country with a view to reducing maternal death in the country.

Speaking at a Civil Society Media Forum organised by Development Communications (DevComms) with the theme: ‘Overcoming the challenges of Maternal Death during recession in Nigeria’, the President, Association of Resident Doctors, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (ARD-LUTH) Chapter, Dr. Akinkunmi Afolabi said, the cost of consumable medications has also contributed to maternal death rate.

According to him, “To reduce maternal death, the government must ensure the primary health centres have 24 hours’ power supply. If at the point when a woman is to deliver at night and there is no light to oversee the delivery, there might be complications.”

He said, “How do you expect a delivery or operation to go on successfully when there is no stable power supply to run it”?

He regretted that, “In Nigeria, as of 2015, there were 814 deaths per 100,000 live-births. Not all pregnant women can afford to buy drugs to use during pregnancy.”

He said, “Most women are dying in the rural areas, due to the fact that they are being attended to by Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs), who have less or no experience about delivery.”

Afolabi said, the current economy has also contributed to maternal mortality, adding that, “The rate of teenage pregnancy is high and during pregnancy, complications arise, they lose blood, they have tears due to the size of the vagina. Some women will be pregnant and they will stay at home, they won’t register for ante-natal.”

He said, “However, it is advisable to register before the due time of delivery.”