The Guardian (Nigeria)

‘Medical insurance, improved infrastruc­ture, needed to reduce maternal mortality’

- By Passion Pela

MEDICAL experts have called on the government to establish a viable medical insurance for emergency to reduce maternal mortality in Nigeria.

Physician and Head of Operations, Genesis Specialist Hospital (GSH), Dr. Muyiwa Onabanjo said provision of medical insurance for pregnant women combined with improved infrastruc­ture is one giant step that can be taken towards decreasing maternal mortality in the country.

According to research, about 800 women die daily because of complicati­ons, which are connected with pregnancy or childbirth.

Speaking at the launch of GSH women centre, Onabanjo said that the incessant increase in mortality rate is due to poor maintenanc­e and unavailabi­lity of facilities in hospitals for effective practice.

He added that complicate­d pregnancy is the major cause of maternal mortality in Nigeria, and can only be prevented if adequate care is taken.

“We want to create a situation where people will seek healthcare here rather than go to India, Australia or South Africa,” he added.

Onabanjo said GSH’S women centre is focused on providing a fully equipped point of care for women with high-risk pregnancy and also those with normal pregnancy.

“Our physicians have received adequate training within and outside the country and are implementi­ng a robust antenatal regimen. The women centre has private rooms with all the internatio­nal standard technology to provide safety and comfort for our patients,” he emphasised.

He however decried that epileptic power supply remains a big challenge to the nation’s healthcare system.

“Fluctuatio­n of light has disturbed some equipment we brought in here. But we have overlooked that, because we love our country and we want to put in our best to save our healthcare system,” he added.

Onabanjo noted that the lackadaisi­cal attitude of some healthcare providers has also contribute­d to the increased morbidity and mortality rate.

Anaesthesi­ologist and interventi­onal pain specialist of Genesis Specialist Hospital, Dr. Debo Adebayo

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