Maternal mortality drops by 50% in Nigeria

Written by Adelowo Oladipo, Minna
The nation's health sector has been given a pass against the backdrop of an unfolding statistics, indicating that maternal mortality in the country has been reduced by 50 per cent in the last two years, following the introduction of Mid-wives Service Scheme (MSS) in some parts of the country, the Acting Executive Director (ED) of National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHDA), Dr Emmanuel Abanida, has said.

The acting ED made the disclosure on Thursday, at an interactive session with newsmen on the ongoing training of mid-wives during his visit to the College of Nursing and Midwifery, Minna, Niger State.

He noted that, prior to the commencement of the MSS in 2009, statistics indicated that there was 1,300 death per every 100, 000 life birth which had now significantly reduced to 500 death per every 100, 000 life birth in the country, thereby indicating a 50 per cent decrease in maternal mortality.

Dr Abanida further disclosed that the country was on the right track of achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), considering the huge success recorded in the field of MSS within the short period it was introduced in the country.

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