Experiences have shown that the birth process is perhaps one of the most dangerous journeys that majority of women are likely to make. This is especially troubling as statistics revealed that the extent of loss of lives across low and middle income countries occasioned by the issue is increasingly becoming high.
According to a 2015 report from the World Health Organisation (WHO), approximately 830 women die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth every day and a high percentage of all maternal deaths occur in developing countries, including Nigeria.
And even more specific representation is provided by the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund, UNICEF, which reports that “Every single day, Nigeria loses about 2,300 children under five and 145 women of childbearing age. This makes the country the second largest contributor to the under–five and maternal mortality rate in the world.”
However, due to the fundamental role a mother plays in the life of a child, Nigeria’s current statistics of very high deaths per year during childbirth is indicative of inherent lapses in the critical aspects of the healthcare delivery system of the country.
A recent UNICEF report states that for every 10 minutes, one woman dies on account of pregnancy or childbirth in Nigeria. These worrying statistics reveal the extent of damage that is being done and dims any hope of a possible solution if urgent steps are not taken, it also shows that financial and geographical access to care and good quality healthcare delivery service is becoming scarcer by the day.
How can we then reduce maternal mortality in our dear country?
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