Maternal Mortality: Nigeria Has Not Performed Well- SOGON

Maternal Mortality: Nigeria Has Not Performed Well- SOGON
Abuja, By Kuni Tyessi
— Nov 29, 2015 8:09 am | Leave a comment
In a bid to assess Nigeria’s performance in its services towards curbing the menace of maternal mortality and paving a way forward, it has been revealed that the country has not performed well as expected.
The president of the Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria (SOGON), Prof Brian Adinma, disclosed this yesterday at the end of the 9th international congress and celebration of the ‎society’s 50th anniversary.
He said enough has not been done in the areas of advocacy and public enlightenment ‎which are necessary tools in the fight against maternal mortality.
‎”Nigeria has not performed well in MDG4 and 5 and the health condition is still in a despicable state. Under the new development agenda of the sustainable development goals, what we have decided to do is to re- strategise. ‎”
“In this fight we need the instrument of advocacy, the instrument of clinical services, the instrument of training and research. When we bring this to bear on the theme we have on maternal health, we are unflinchingly optimistic that we will turn around the maternal health situation of our country. With public enlightenment and advocacy, we will be able to overcome this.”
Similarly, in the field of female genital mutilation, Prof Adinma stated that it is a gradual process as religious and cultural beliefs are attached to it. He said when people are enlightened and understand the the dangers inherent to the practice, the government will not need to carry out sanctions.
He said sexual and reproductive rights of women must be respected as accepted globally and Nigeria is not exempted.
“It is one of the infringements of the sexual and reproductive rights of women. Globally, we have ascended to global decision on the protection and upliftment of women sexual and reproductive rights. So it behoves us therefore to maintain what we have pledged.”
He debunked the idea that some medical experts might be involved in the unhealthy practice and stressed that there are some parts of the world where mutilation has been medicalised but not in Nigeria because they were not trained to do so.”