Press Briefing
Dr Aliyu Shettima Mailafiya, the Executive Director, Borno State Primary Health Care Development Agency (SPPCDA), has observed that most maternal deaths are preventable if women access the needed healthcare services.
Mailafiya Made this known on Saturday in Maiduguri while addressing the press at a ceremony to mark the National Safe Motherhood Day.
“Most maternal deaths are preventable if women access healthcare solutions to prevent or manage complications. All women need to be aware of care in pregnancy, during and after child birth.
“Maternal health and newborn health are closely linked. Therefore it is important that all births are attended by skilled health professionals to provide treatment in time. This will make the difference between life and death for the mother as well as for the baby,” Mailafiya said.
The Director also observed that to avoid deaths, there was need prevent unwanted pregnancies by means of contraception and other legal ways, adding that safe motherhood has four pillars comprising antenatal, clean delivery, essential obstruct care and family planning.
“The goal package is to reduce MM by half and neonatal and prenatal mortality by 30-40 % of 1990 level.
“Safe motherhood can be achieved by providing human rights, access to full information and quality service to make an informed decision without barrier be it legal, political and health related, and free from any violence and intimidation,” Mailafiya said.
He also stressed the need to strengthen the system such as delivery, skill birth attendants, enable empowerment and referral system.
The National Safe Motherhood Day observed 22th of May every year was set by Federal Government to focus national and state attention on emerging issues on safe motherhood to promote maternal and newborn health.
This year’s theme is, “Improving Demand, Access and Utilization of Maternal Services in the Context of COVID-19 Pandemic”, while the slogan is, “Quality, Equity and Dignity for Women”.
The occasion is graced by various stakeholders including representative of partners like World Health Organisation (WHO).
