By Gabriel Olawale

The Executive Director, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Center, WARDC, Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, has urged Government at all levels to deploy resources in addressing  maternal mortality and morbidity in the country.

Making the appeal during a media sensitisation workshop on Maternal Health Right in Nigeria, Akiyode-Afolabi lamented the high rate of maternal and child death in the country affirming a more realistic approach to the issue of mother and child health.

“The government, in its current report to the African Commission states that the MMR has reduced from the 2008 ratio of 545 deaths per 100,000 live births to 487 deaths per 100,000 live births. While same report shows that the MMR has shown great improvement by further dropping to 350 deaths per 100,000 live births.

“However, the 2013 Nigerian Demographic Health Survey (2013 NDHS), which was published in June 2014 reveals a different picture and shows that the MMR has worsened—increasing from the 2008 ratio to 576 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2013.

“This upward trend further reflected in the World Health Organisation’s 2014 report on maternal mortality which states that Nigeria’s MMR is 560 deaths per 100,000 live births and that Nigeria accounts for 14 percent of the global maternal death.

“Reducing high maternal mortality in Nigeria can only be done effectively if mothers and child have unhindered access to adequate health systems, skilful birth attendants, and low cost medical interventions, the requirement for preliminary authorisation, compulsory donation of blood by spousal, distance from health facilities and public transport. This qualitative access can reduce new born death rates by 75 per cent.”

Akiyode however called for appropriate mobilisation and educating women on what to do when they notice they have missed their period in order to be on a saver side when they reached delivery time.

Programme Officer of Development Communications, DevComs Network, Ayodele Adesanmi disclosed that every single woman should be able to ask question concerning their health and that of their child.

“When women visit hospitals and drugs are not available such women should be able to ask questions. It is until when we start to see access to healthcare as right before we can witness any improvement, “ he said.