Reducing Infant Mortality Through Improved Maternity Health in Africa

The socio-economic roles of woman in the family make it so difficult for man to cope immediately his wife dies. No wonder the ratio of men who re-marry after the death of their wives is higher than that of women. This gives women edge over the men when it comes to home building.

In the course of executing this God-given responsibility of given birth, many women have lost their lives. The death of these mothers also increases the rate of infant mortality. According to Professor J.I.B. Adinma of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, “paradoxically, pregnancy and child birth in many Africa Communities are taken for granted and treated with such dangerous levity that Sub-Saharan Africa has been regarded as the most unsafe place to have baby. It is generally believed that one woman dies every minute from causes related to pregnancy and child birth”. Of approximately 550,000 maternal deaths that occur annually, world over, about 90% take place in Sub-Sahara Africa. The situation in Nigeria paints an even more dismal picture with maternal ratio ranging between 1,0003,000-1000,000 live births.

Nigeria has the second highest maternal mortality ratio in the world, surpass by only by India. Live time risk of maternal death which refer to the risk of a woman dying from pregnancy or child birth during her life time is high in Nigeria, approximately 1 in 20, when compared with very low figures, 1 in 3,000 to 7,000 in developed countries

The major causes of these deaths include hemorrhage, sepsis, and pregnancy induced hypertension unsafe abortion, obstructed labour, anemia and malaria.

To check this ugly situation which is the highest in the Africa region, Nigeria in 1998 made a renewed commitment to the challenges of safe motherhood by setting a day aside yearly to deliberate on issue of making pregnancy and its outcome safer. May 22nd was the date chosen to celebrate Safe Motherhood Day and this has since been celebrated from 1999 to date.

In consideration of the adverse effect of maternal mortality on the child, Government should embark on a campaign and enlightenment on the need for safe medical treatment, renovation and equipment of hospitals to appreciable standards. Government should as a matter of urgency provide free and accessible medical care for maternal reproductive Health. Government should ensure effective monitoring and evaluation of the health system with women as members of the team.

Religious and Traditional leaders should be involved in the sensitization and mobilization on Reproductive Health, unsafe and safe abortion.

Policy makers should legislate against some cultural practices in Africa that militate against the health and well-being of women and children e.g. female circumcision, gender disparity etc.

Employers of labour should create healthy and enabling work environment for working pregnant women and nursing mothers. These include improved medical care, proper health insurance scheme, employer assisted health care delivery, more financial assistance and reduced workload for pregnant women.

Family Units should reduce the home stressor for pregnant women. This could be achieved through reduced chores, creation of tension free home environment, improved respect and care for pregnant women.

Husband of pregnant women should realize that their completion is found only in their wives and as such in a very simple understanding provide all the necessities for their pregnant wives.

Mothers should be given maximum support in way to fulfill their God given responsibilities towards themselves, their children and the society. All hands should be on desk for healthy mothers and children are joy of the family and the pride of the nation.

Let us safe the future of Africa together by saving the mothers, the unborn child and the born child.