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Monday, March 7, 2011

If statistics recently released by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) are accurate, then the health status of Nigerian children remains grave indeed. According to its Executive Director, Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate, the country has the worst maternal newborn and child mortality rates worldwide. An estimated 52,900 women and 250,000 newborn babies die yearly from causes that are largely preventable, Dr. Pate revealed at the official commencement of the distribution of baseline data on primary healthcare facilities by NPHCDA.

It was at the 4th National Conference on Telemedicine and e-Health held recently in Gombe, the Gombe State capital.

A recent United Nations report corroborates this dismal picture. The report reveals that one Nigerian woman dies every three minutes in the country from pregnancy-related complications. In addition, 16 under-5 Nigerian children die every 10 minutes on account of clearly avoidable ailments! This newspaper has consistently expressed worry over these scary statistics, as reflected in past editorials. We are appalled by the implication of these dire statistics: that the nation’s governments have callously turned their backs on two of the most vulnerable groups in the society - children and their mothers.

Though not a few Nigerians are tempted to shrug off these disturbing data as a false alarm, we think it would be irresponsible for any serious government to do so. That the scourge of high infant and maternal mortality rates continues to be highlighted in the country’s human development ranking, year after year, is proof of a fundamental failure in our governance.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), for instance, Nigeria’s infant mortality rate (IMR) stood at 123 per 1,000 live births as at independence in 1960. Nearly 40 years later, at the return of democratic rule in 1999, it was still as high as 112. The WHO-sponsored report, prepared by the Nigeria Reproductive Health Resources and Services Survey (2002), had this to say: “The maternal mortality rate is still unacceptably high in Nigeria. For every 100,000 live births, about 800 die in the process of bringing these precious babies into the world. Out of 27 million women of reproductive age, about two million will not survive either pregnancy or childbirth.”

The report disclosed that as at 2002, Nigeria’s MMR was “almost twice as high as in Botswana and 100 times worse than in industrialised countries.”

A devastating finding, confirming that scarcely any progress has been recorded in primary health care delivery in 50 years of the nation’s independence!

To reverse this tragic trend, the country has to scale up the proportion of births attended to by qualified midwives, which is currently below 40 per cent. In addition, there should be full immunisation of all young children. The NPHCDA holds similar views. Its claim, however, that with 70,000 midwives Nigeria has more than enough is questionable, especially as millions of rural women have no access to qualified midwives before, during and immediately after childbirth.

Truth is, health care delivery should not be taken in isolation of other relevant factors. Proper and up-to-date training is required to ensure the competence of midwives in child delivery. Infrastructural facilities must be made available. How does a pregnant woman in labour get prompt medical attention if she lives in a rural community lacking basic health facilities? If the road to the nearest hospital is in a dilapidated state, and transport scarce or hazardous (e.g. by commercial motorcycles), will that not compound her woes? If she eventually makes it to a clinic and she needs to undergo urgent surgery, what will be her fate if a competent surgeon is not available? And in the absence of stable power supply and clean tap water, is it not obvious that her chances of survival, and her unborn baby’s as well, are slim indeed?

In the light of this we commend the initiative of the Josephine Anenih-led Ministry of Women Affairs in introducing the Child and Maternal Mortality Ambulances scheme. In the first phase launched by the First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, in July, some 49 ambulances went to 16 states. Recently, the Federal Government also approved the disbursement of N450 million for the purchase of the second batch of ambulances for the remaining 20 states. We urge the state and local governments to put these ambulances to maximum use and also complement the Federal Government’s laudable effort.

A more holistic approach, targeting the reduction of mass poverty and illiteracy, is required. Lack of nutrition awareness among pregnant women and lactating mothers is a vital factor, stemming from ignorance. Public enlightenment in this regard must be steeped up. Besides, the National Assembly should ensure the quick passage of the National Health Bill, being sponsored by the Health Minister, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, to lower the cost of procuring healthcare in Nigeria. The Assembly should also ratify the United Nations’ Protocol on the Child. Besides, adequate budgetary allocations to the health sector and effective monitoring budget performance are necessary to get Nigeria out of the current shame of possessing the worst infant mortality rate in the world.

http://www.independentngonline.com/DailyIndependent/Article.aspx?id=21018

We took the liberty of extracting a demographic survey carried out in the Northern part of Nigeria.
Northern Nigeria Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Programme:
Selected Analyses from Population-Based Baseline Survey.

http://benthamscience.com/open/todemoj/articles/V004/11TODEMOJ.pdf?utm_source=MHTF+Subscribers&utm_campaign=9965d91942-MH_BUZZ03_01_2010&utm_medium=email

Nigeria-Health: Fakeye blames government for high maternal mortality rate


Health-Nigeria - Professor Olurotimi Fakeye of the Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University of Ilorin, has blamed the high incidences of high maternal mortality in Nigeria on government's assistance of the health sector. Prof. Fakeye, a former chief medical director of University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), disclosed this while delivering the 93rd Inaugural Lecture of the University, entitled "That Our Women Die Not In Vain" last Thursday at the University of Ilorin main Auditorium.

He said "Nigeria has the world's second highest number of maternal mortality with approximately 59,000 deaths annually. Although Nigeria makes up 2 percent of the world's population, it accounts for 10 percent of its maternal deaths. Nigeria's maternal mortality ratio (MMR) is 545 maternal deaths per 100,000 livebirth (DHS 2008) with a range of 200 - 1800 per 100,000 livebirths", he said.

While attributing the figures to poor budgetary allocation and underfunding of the health sector by government, the don, decried the jumbo salary of the Nigerian legislators, saying that part of their pay could be used to better the nation's health sector and reduce the incidences of maternal death.

His words: "Our lawmakers provide for themselves jumbo pay at the expense of lives of the poor, powerless women and children. This is immoral. Their insensitivity is aptly described by the classical expression "Nero fiddled while Rome burned". I am sure you will join me in using the Shakespeare's quote in warning our lawmakers "Tempt not a desperate man" and by extension, "Tempt not a desperate nation".

Prof. Fakeye also called on the National Assembly to stop the "jumpo pay" and the awarding of itself that kind of salary and join the salary scale as prescribed by the National Salaries and Wages Commission.

He further said that between now and 2015, an annual increase ratio of total health expenditure divided by GDP by one percent point be legislated in order to enable Nigeria attain the Millenium Development Goals pertaining to health, education and poverty reduction.

While quoting Mahmoud Fathalla who said that "Women are not dying because of a disease we cannot treat. They are dying because societies have to make decision that their lives are worth saying", the don lampooned the political class on their failure to address the critical situation of health sector.

"Our persistent, unrelenting high mortality rate over the last three decades is a clear evidence of failure of our political system, both at national leadership and operational level. At national level we lack of political will, bounteous rhetoric and grandstanding. Many State governors boast of free antenatal care, but show lack of understanding that a greater proportion of maternal deaths occur during labour, delivery and the first 24 hours postnatal for which women require free emergency obstetric care facilities", he said.

He described abortion as a silent pandemic" that requires legislation on safe abortion.

He said "3,000 Nigerian women who die annually die preventable deaths; they die without gains, stressing that more striking was when one deeply reflects on the profile of women who die from abortion; 55 percent are aged under 25 years, 60 percent are childless, 18 percent have university education, 19 percent are schooling and risk expulsion and among those aged 30-45 years are many who are married, wanting to stop or delay further childbearing. Do these women need to die without gains?"

http://www.afriquejet.com/news/africa-news/nigeria-health:-fakeye-blames-government-for-high-maternal-mortality-rate-201103053665.html

International Women’s Day - March 8th 2011


International Women’s Day 2011 Theme - “Equal access to education, training and science and technology: Pathway to decent work for women”

This year marks the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day. This year’s observance of International Women’s Day focuses on equal access to education, training and science and technology. Cell phones and the Internet, for example, can enable women to improve the health and well-being of their families, take advantage of income-earning opportunities, and protect themselves from exploitation and vulnerability. Access to such tools, backed up by education and training, can help women to break the cycle of poverty, combat injustice and exercise their rights.



That is why Advocacy for Maternal and Infant Health in Nigeria supports ‘moms + connect’. A quick access to health project idea submitted on change maker’s collaborative competition website sometimes last year.

Women and mothers all over Africa especially Nigeria can start enjoying their full human rights and fundamental freedoms if they can have control and determine exactly what they want concerning their health. Having access to quick medical service on time when needed will ensure an increase in the confidence level of women all over the world. It will require their full active participation, but it will be the start of equality and development of women all over Nigeria and Africa as a whole.

For the women of the world, the Day's symbolism has a wider meaning: It is an occasion to review how far they have come in their struggle for equality, peace and development. It is also an opportunity to unite, network and mobilize for meaningful change.

Gender equality is not only a basic human right, but its achievement has enormous socio-economic ramifications. Empowering women fuels thriving economies, spurring productivity and growth.

Yet gender inequalities remain deeply entrenched in every society. Women in all parts of the world suffer violence and discrimination, and are under-represented in decision-making processes. High rates of maternal mortality continue to be a cause for global shame.

UN Women — which started operations on January 2011 — has been created by the General Assembly to address such challenges. It will be a dynamic and strong champion for women and girls, providing them with a powerful voice at the global, regional and local levels. It will enhance, not replace, efforts by other parts of the UN system (such as UNICEF, UNDP, and UNFPA) that continue to have responsibility to work for gender equality and women’s empowerment in their areas of expertise.

UN Women will have two key roles: It will support inter-governmental bodies such as the Commission on the Status of Women in their formulation of policies, global standards and norms, and it will help Member States to implement these standards, standing ready to provide suitable technical and financial support to those countries that request it, as well as forging effective partnerships with civil society. It will also help the UN system to be accountable for its own commitments on gender equality, including regular monitoring of system-wide progress.

While UN is doing its best to secure equality for women all over the world, Nigeria can help the speed up of this by ensuring women in Nigeria are empowered, enough of speeches and promises.

When the government is working, the illiterates and women in rural areas will know without being told. They will see the effects because the ripples will spread. Its high time Nigeria takes her rightful place in Africa as the giant. Our women need to be empowered.

I will end this post by quoting a passionate young lady’s wish list for International Women’s day.

I wish that more women will remember today that motherhood is an honorable undertaking. To give birth to, nurture and raise a child is praiseworthy and whether or not you are receiving the credit and support you deserve, be happy in the knowledge that you are irreplaceable.

I wish that more women will refuse to accept discrimination as normal. The biggest hurdle to our cause comes when insults on our dignity grow so mechanical through centuries of use that the victims accept it unconsciously. It appears natural; an inevitable way of life. Refuse to be paid less than your input; refuse to be denied any of your rights; refuse to be defined by other people; refuse to be a willing victim of any sexist system.

I wish that more women will defeat the curse of low expectations: the damaging but deeply entrenched and widespread belief that it is alright to be disrespected here and there. Beware of participating in your own domination and humiliation; beware of any instrument that undermines your worth even if it comes decorated as culture – case in point, polygamy! Why should having multiple sex partners, which is normally called infidelity, is accepted without question? It may be culture but if it places your health at unnecessary risk and undermines your dignity, then you have a right – a responsibility even – to question it.

Every culture was created by people who knew whose interests it was going to serve and I believe women are not who they had in mind when they created polygamy. Learn to expect from others what you give to them; if one man is enough for you, then one woman is definitely enough for him. Whoever teaches you to respect your partner should not neglect to teach you to expect respect in return.

I wish more women will remember today that being adequate, strong, smart, beautiful, and independent does not put you at risk of being alone for the rest of your life. It may intimidate some men but that is no reason to tone down your real abilities; do not blame yourself for any man’s insecurity and by all means do not apologize for being phenomenal. There are millions of men out there who will love you exactly the way you are – brains, big job, confidence, beauty, bling and all. Empowered women are the future.
I wish that ALL women will attain economic freedom and be able to have a say in their lives and homes without being reminded by Mr. Pathetic that he has worked for everything they are now enjoying. And I wish that ALL men will respect all women no matter how financially dependent they are on them and realise that money does not make any person better than the other; integrity is what makes one better than the other.


By Lwanga Mwilu on : http://www.lusakatimes.com/2010/03/08/a-wish-list-for-international-womens-day/



To read about milestones of International Women’s Day, visit:
http://www.unwomen.org/news-events/international-womens-day/milestones/

For streams of videos and interviews on international women’s day, visit: http://www.internationalwomensday.org.au/

Other extracts curtsey:
http://www.unwomen.org/2010/07/un-creates-new-structure-for-empowerment-of-women/
http://www.unwomen.org/news-events/international-womens-day/