2024 Budget: Senator Natasha Advocates Reduction of Maternal Mortality Rate
The Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial district, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has appealed to the Federal Government to prioritize maternal mortality in the 2024 budget to curb the rate of deaths during childbirth.
She also stressed the need to establish synergy between the Ministry of Women Affairs, the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, and other MDAs.
The Senator made the call during the 2024 budget defence/interactive session between the Senate Committee on Women Affairs and the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohaneye.
According to her, there are records of women dying daily as a result of obstructed labor and other issues related to labor adding that several hospitals have no ambulances to commute emergency cases to hospitals while many babies die because there are no functional incubators in the hospitals or health centers.
“I have looked through your budget, and I can identify some projects here which include the construction of blocks of classrooms in Kano; rehabilitation of the Central Mosque and Islamic library in Zamfara; procurement of cargo tricycles for farmers in Abia; provision of street lights in Anambra; and the list goes on.
“I don’t understand how these projects connect to addressing issues facing women. Maternal mortality today, according to the World Health Organisation, stands at 1,047 out of 100,000 live births.
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“That is data generated from urban areas where research is easily conducted. In factual consideration of rural areas, the figure would triple.
“I am from Kogi Central; we have five local government areas, and access to good healthcare services in the communities is very difficult, especially for women.
“I am not exaggerating if I say that not less than ten women die daily from obstructed labour, amongst other complications. There are no ambulances to commute emergency cases to hospitals, and many babies die because there are no functional incubators in the entire Kogi. I stand to be corrected.”
Natasha stated that instead of getting roads and street lights, the ministry of Women Affairs should highlight building or rehabilitating primary healthcare centres in rural communities with incubators and ambulances.
“Last week, I made a statement calling on the federal government to address the primary healthcare centre situation in Kogi Central, and there were some uproars. The debate was about whether it is the duty of the federal government or the state government to provide primary healthcare.
“Many people are ignorant of the responsibilities of the federal government’s right to citizens’ lives and access to healthcare services. A lot of sensitizations must be made,” she said.
Natasha also stressed the need to establish synergy between the Ministry of Women Affairs and the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, and other MDAs that can collaborate to help mitigate the issues facing women in Nigeria.
