The Director of Research at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos, Prof. Bamidele Iwalokun, has revealed that postpartum bleeding accounts for most maternal deaths in Nigeria.
Iwalokun disclosed this while delivering the keynote address at the investiture of the eighth President of the Rotary Club of Arepo Longbridge, Richard Oguntoyinbo, held on Saturday at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry Conference Centre, Lagos.
He said one in every 13 pregnant women dies during childbirth in Nigeria, adding that the country records about 245,000 pregnancy-related deaths annually, with postpartum haemorrhage responsible for 25 per cent of the fatalities.
“In Nigeria, we lose 245,000 women to pregnancy-associated complications every year,” the NIMR chief stated, lamenting that many health facilities lack the resources to effectively manage postpartum bleeding.
According to him, adequate interventions could reduce maternal deaths by as much as 145,000 annually.
He cited the use of anti-shock garments as one of the measures that could help stem the trend of preventable maternal deaths.
Iwalokun expressed concern that Nigeria currently accounts for 20 per cent of global maternal deaths, while neonatal and under-five mortality rates remain alarmingly high.
“One in every 13 babies dies at birth, and one in eight children does not live to see their fifth birthday,” he noted.
The professor explained that the major causes of maternal deaths include haemorrhage, unsafe abortion, sepsis (infection), and hypertensive disorders such as eclampsia, which often lead to premature deliveries.
He also attributed the worsening situation to the shortage of healthcare professionals, particularly midwives, caused by brain drain and the mass migration of health workers abroad under the “japa” trend.
“About 79 per cent of the remaining midwives are concentrated in urban areas, leaving rural communities grossly underserved. This imbalance contributes to the high rates of maternal and neonatal deaths,” he said.
Iwalokun called for stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors to tackle the crisis, stressing that Nigeria must accelerate progress to meet the Sustainable Development Goal of reducing maternal mortality from 147 deaths per 100,000 live births to 75 per 100,000 by 2030.
In his remarks, the newly installed president of the Rotary Club of Arepo Longbridge, Engineer Oguntoyinbo, pledged to initiate projects aimed at improving maternal health and reducing preventable deaths.
The event was attended by dignitaries from various walks of life, including Assistant Governor Jetta Ijetta and past presidents of the club, Mr. Tayo Egunjobi and Dr. Funke Ayeni.
The Punch
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