Winifred Bosa, Lagos.
Pregnant women have been urged to seek delivery services at health facilities as
Anteenatal car (ANC) is one of the basic components of maternal care on which the life of mother and babies depend.
Dr Ovuoraye John , Consultant Family Physician Deputy Director & Head of Newborn Branch Child Health Division Family Health Department, Federal Ministry Of Health , Abuja , also advised Women to register in health facilities nearest to their vicinity so that they can easily access it when in labour to avoid complications.
Dr Ovuoraye while addressing some issues on the Status of Reproductive, Maternal Newborn Child and Adolescent Health Plus Nutrition In Nigeria at an integrated media parley organised by Breakthrough Action -Nigeria in collaboration with the Health Writers Association of Nigeria (HEWAN), in Lagos recently, observed grossly low antenatal attendance at health facility by pregnant women.
” Only about half of pregnant women in Nigeria attend health facility for ANC of 7 million births every year”
” this translates into loses of 33,000 women, 284, 000 newborn and 1,000,000 children under 5 deaths annually ” , he said.
Epidemiological studies show that women who receive ANC early in pregnancy, and who have more antenatal visits, tend to have lower maternal and perinatal mortality and other pregnancy outcome, this is because all the health related issues of a mother during pregnancy like nutritional deficiencies, infections, hypertension, diabetes, and others are treated during this period.
Speaking On behalf of Breakthrough ACTION , the Deputy Project Director Malaria and Tuberclosis , Breakthrough Action , Dr Bolatito Anyenigba , explained that Breakthrough ACTION is a Social Behavior Change Project led by John Hopkins Center for Communication Programs.
Bolatito said that the focus of the project is on Integrated health Social behavior Change – Maternal, Neonatal Child Health plus Nutrition, Family Planning, Malaria and Tuberculosis and also to ensure that HEWAN reports well on these areas.
