Okonofua laments high rate of maternal mortality

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM BENIN CITY-Project Director of Women’s Health and Action Research Centre, WHARC, Professor Friday Okonofua, Tuesday, expressed concern over the high rate of death during delivery in the country. The former Presidential aide, who described the high rate of death as alarming, added that the two teaching hospitals in the state, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH, and Irrua Teaching Hospital, Irrua, were being overworked due to alleged failure of the government to prioritise maternal health. Prof. Okonofua who spoke at a workshop on Infection Control Practices in Delivery Care Facility in Edo State, organised by WHARC, noted that the nation may not be able to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, MDG-5, aimed at reducing maternal mortality by 75 per cent by 2015. He said: “Globally, Nigeria currently has the second worst case of women who die during pregnancy each year. With an estimated maternal mortality rate of 608 per 100,000 deliveries and 50,000 women dying each year, Nigeria is second only to India in terms of maternal mortality and this number is high.” “This country was also recently reported to be one of the six countries that account for up to 50 per cent of the global maternal deaths. At this rate, many are worried that Nigeria may not achieve the MDG-5, which is aimed at reducing maternal mortality by 75 per cent by the year 2015.” He stressed the need for the Edo State Government to establish infection control committees in delivery units in the state, adding “a procedure for regular auditing cases of maternal deaths and near miss cases of puerperal sepsis should be instituted. This will ensure the identification of measures to prevent puerperal infections in the state”. http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/09/okonofua-laments-high-rate-of-maternal-mortality/