Maternal Mortality Rate in Nigeria Remains Alarmingly High, Says Expert

Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti

The Executive Director of Hacey Health Initiative, Rhoda Robinson,  yesterday decried that the maternal mortality rate in Nigeria is still alarmingly high.
He said that despite concerted efforts by stakeholders, the Nigeria’s Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) is 512 deaths per 100,000 live births and one of the highest rates in the world.

He stated this in Ado-Ekiti during the Maternal Health project organised by Hacey Health Initiative with the goal of reducing maternal mortality rates in the State.
No fewer than 100 pregnant women benefited from the intervention by Hacey health initiative, including free distribution of birthing kits and Mackintosh Rubber Sheet for safe delivery.

“Despite the efforts of key stakeholders to combat this issue, significant gaps in maternal health interventions remain. Therefore, it is crucial to improve access to high-quality maternal health services and supplies, alleviate poverty and promote practices that prioritise the wellbeing of women.
“HACEY has created the Maternal Health project with the goal of reducing maternal mortality rates. The project focuses on enhancing access to safe and essential birthing kits, empowering women to make informed health and financial choices, and fostering community support for pregnant women.
“So far, the project has successfully reached 12,000 pregnant women across 12 states with crucial health and financial information for a safer delivery. Additionally, these women have received safe birthing kits to ensure clean and safe deliveries,” he said.

Speaking at the intervention programme, Matron of Okeyinmi Health Centre, Mrs Dili Margaret, hailed the organisation for deeming it fit to organise the event.
She reiterated the need for mothers to carry antenatal visits and encourage others for successful delivery which will be carried out in the health centre.
“It’s good and commendable. Our mortality rate here is within normal range. There is no death rate at all concerning the mother and the child. The fertile ones, with good antenatal, we don’t have such.

“The need for them to have successful delivery is the major thing to be carried out and provided. We used to tell them on each antenatal visits and even if they have friends, they should encourage their friends to come to antenatal clinic,” she added.
On his part, a Social Worker, Adebayo Abiodun said 15 Primary Health Centres in Ekiti State had been targeted for the programme aimed at reducing mortality rate in the State.

He said: “I am helping them to fast tracking the distribution of these birthing kits to 15 Primary Health Centres, PHCs, in Ekiti State which is Ikere, Irepodun/Ifelodun and Igede including Ado-Ekiti.
“We have been reaching out to the pregnant women in reducing mortality rate in Ekiti State and the programme has been bringing quick results among the pregnant women.

“They should not take safe medication or go to any centre that is not a well-equipped medical centre. In Ekiti State, there is free health care and delivery in all the PHCs in the state.”