By Emmanuel Elebeke
AS part of efforts to address thE high number of women who die yearly from pregnancy related complications, a non governmental organization, Oops … I’m Pregnant, OIP,  in collaboration with Medical Women Association of Nigeria, MWAN last week in Lagos, organised a workshop tagged : “The role of Faith-based Organisations in Achieving a Reduced Maternal Mortality Rate in Nigeria.”

The workshop was aimed at empowering and sensitising religious leaders to help in the reduction or possible elimination of the potentials of incidences  of  maternal mortality among their faithfuls. The event also provided a viable platform for knowledge sharing and exchange that would give practical steps for implementing and monitoring the effects of the programmes of  FBOs.

In her presentation entitled “That Our Women May Live”, a physiologist, Dr. Simiat Olanike Elias, regretted the high number of pregnancy related cases  in Nigeria and called for compulsory girl-child education, empowerment of women on micro enterprises, provision of quality health facilities and even distribution to all localities  the country.

Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, represented by Mrs. Tanimola Latifah said the high maternal mortality in Nigeria was unacceptable.

Idris who affirmed government readiness to partner with FBOs in the fight against reduction of maternal mortality in Nigeria, said the government is passionate about reducing the high rate of maternal mortality in the state, which informed her various intervention programmes to achieve its set goals, through advocacy and sensitisation campaigns.

Also speaking, Pharm. Cletus Ngbede deplored the alarming rate at which women die before, during and after pregnancy, saying that the situation has become emergency. He said the solution to the tragic situation lies in the hands of faith-based organisations because of the overriding influence they command on their faithfuls.