…seek stronger healthcare, insurance coverage
…advocate political commitment, increased funding
•Poor infrastructure, manpower blamed
By Kemi Olatunde and Justus Adetomiwa
Nigeria’s maternal mortality rate has remained a major public health concern, with medical experts warning that thousands of deaths recorded during pregnancy and childbirth are largely preventable if governments at all levels strengthen the healthcare system, improve infrastructure and expand access to quality maternal care.
Speaking separately with WEEKEND HOPE in Akure, Ondo State capital, and Ado-Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti State, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Dr Olorunfemi Owa and the Chief Medical Director of Our Baby Hospital Limited, Dr Joseph Omotosho, respectively said that urgent reforms were required to reverse the country’s worsening maternal mortality indices.
Owa, who spoke on the factors driving maternal deaths, identified delays in accessing healthcare, inadequate staffing in hospitals, poor infrastructure and limited access to affordable medical services as major contributors to the crisis.
He stressed that many pregnant women arrive at healthcare facilities only to encounter overstretched personnel and insufficient resources.
He said, “When a woman gets to a hospital that attends to hundreds of patients and finds only one or two doctors available, there is no way those doctors can attend to everyone at the same time.
“Patients are left waiting in queues, and complications can arise while they are waiting to be attended to.”
On his part, Omotosho warned that Nigeria is in danger of facing worsening maternal mortality rates, unless urgent investments were made in healthcare infrastructure, health insurance coverage and maternal health services.
Describing Nigeria as one of the most challenging countries in the world for women to safely go through pregnancy and childbirth, Omotosho reiterated that the country’s maternal mortality rate remained “unacceptably high.”
He said, “This is not a problem that can be solved with a single action. Government must continue investing in healthcare personnel, modern medicines and health facilities while ensuring women can access services when they need them.”
He also called on political leaders, religious institutions and community organisations to intensify public awareness campaigns on maternal health, adding, “Our women are dying, and we must not shy away from talking about it. Political leaders, pastors, imams and community leaders all have a role to play in encouraging women to seek healthcare early and regularly.”
Speaking further, Owa warned that the death of a mother during pregnancy or childbirth had far-reaching consequences for families, communities and national development.
He stressed, “A mother’s death is not only a death for herself. In most cases, there are children she is leaving behind, and the chances of those children surviving to adulthood are significantly reduced because they are deprived of essential maternal care and support.
“The death of a mother affects the husband, affects other members of the family, affects the community and ultimately affects the nation at large.”
Warning that rising maternal mortality could negatively affect Nigeria’s global image and development indicators, he added, “Government should do everything within its power to reduce maternal deaths. When these indices continue to worsen, they affect the overall perception of the nation and its progress.
“Maternal mortality is an important index for measuring development in any country. A very high maternal mortality rate signals gaps in healthcare delivery and social development.”
Omotosho also advocated stronger public-private partnerships in the health sector, insisting that collaboration between government and private healthcare providers would improve access to quality maternal healthcare services.
He also expressed the concern over the migration of healthcare professionals abroad, warning that the shortage of doctors and nurses continued to put pressure on Nigeria’s health system.
He maintained, “We need to retain skilled healthcare workers and create an environment where they can thrive. Without adequate manpower, it becomes difficult to provide the level of care that mothers and newborns require.
He urged governments at all levels to prioritise primary healthcare, describing it as the foundation of an effective health system.
He said, “We do not want to see more women losing their lives because of pregnancy-related complications. Investing in maternal healthcare is investing in the future of the country.”