7 hours Ago By Angela Onwuzoo
Angela Onwuzoo The Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria says the persistent economic hardship in the country is seriously impacting maternal and child health as the situation has forced many expectant mothers to deliver their babies at home due to their inability to afford the cost of hospital delivery. President of SOGON, Dr. Habib Sadauki, disclosed this during an exclusive interview with PUNCH HealthWise, warning that the home is not safe for delivery for now.
Sadauki lamented that the current economic situation in the country had worsened the problem, especially among poor and vulnerable women. According to him, the cost of delivery has gone up in hospitals across the country as a result of the current inflation. The consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist explained, “About 80 percent of our women deliver at home and some of them may even deliver with nobody around.
“This practice is very dangerous for mothers especially if they have complications of bleeding. “Bleeding doesn’t take time to kill. If the bleeding does not stop immediately and assistance does not come immediately, the person can die very easily.
” The SOGON president urged pregnant women to deliver in health facilities where there are trained skilled birth providers who can manage complications during delivery. “We are discouraging mothers from delivering at home. They should, as much as possible deliver under the supervision of a skilled provider in an appropriate facility.
“The home is not appropriate for delivery for now. You need a trained, skilled provider to supervise labour to save the mother from complications”, he noted. Sadauki identified ignorance, poverty, and conditions of the hospitals in the country as some of the factors responsible for the practice.
He further said, “Yes, the hospitals are there. But there are no supplies, the patient has to buy everything. You go to the hospital, there is no light, there is no water.
The infrastructure is not enough. “Also, if you look at the attitude of the health workers towards women during labour, it is still not good. Some still shout at patients during delivery and the environment is not dignifying.
So, this discourages them from coming to the hospital.” The maternal health specialist noted that if nothing drastic was done about the rising inflation, Nigeria may likely miss its target of achieving the Sustainable Development Goal for Health and Well-being before the 2030 deadline. The latest United Nations Children’s Fund report titled “Situation of Women and Children in Nigeria” states that the country records 576 maternal mortality per 100,000 live births, while approximately 262,000 babies die at birth every year.
Also, infant mortality, according to the report, currently stands at 69 per 1,000 live births, while under-five deaths is 128 per 1,000 live births with more than 64 per cent of the deaths caused by pneumonia, malaria and diarrhoea. According to UNICEF, too many mothers and newborns in Nigeria are not being cared for by a trained and equipped midwife or nurse, and the results are devastating. “We can ensure that millions of babies survive their first day and live into this decade and beyond if every mother has good pregnancy care and every baby is born into a safe pair of hands.
“That means having well-equipped facilities with well-trained staff who can be there to welcome every Nigerian child into this world safely and healthily”, UNICEF said. Copyright PUNCH All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Contact: health_wise@punchng. com Tags maternal health pregnant woman.
