Bleeding to death after childbirth still at an alarming rate in nigeria adewole

A very important and timely topic!

According to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO), maternal mortality remains a significant public health concern in Nigeria, with an estimated 58,000 maternal deaths occurring annually. One of the leading causes of maternal mortality in Nigeria is postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), which is bleeding that occurs after childbirth.

In a recent statement, Dr. Isaac Adewole, the former Minister of Health in Nigeria, highlighted the alarming rate of maternal mortality due to PPH in the country. He noted that Nigeria has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, with an estimated 1 in 13 women dying from pregnancy-related complications, including PPH.

Dr. Adewole emphasized that PPH is a preventable cause of maternal mortality, and that the country needs to scale up efforts to prevent and manage PPH. He called for increased investment in healthcare infrastructure, training of healthcare providers, and provision of essential medicines and equipment to prevent and manage PPH.

Some of the factors contributing to the high rate of PPH in Nigeria include:

  1. Limited access to healthcare services, particularly in rural areas.
  2. Inadequate training of healthcare providers in PPH management.
  3. Limited availability of essential medicines and equipment, such as oxytocin and uterotonics.
  4. High rates of cesarean sections, which can increase the risk of PPH.
  5. Poor postpartum care, including inadequate monitoring and management of bleeding.

To address this issue, the Nigerian government has launched several initiatives, including:

  1. The National Maternal and Child Health Policy, which aims to reduce maternal mortality by 50% by 2025.
  2. The Saving One Million Lives (SOML) initiative, which aims to reduce maternal and child mortality by improving healthcare services and increasing access to essential medicines and equipment.
  3. The establishment of a National Postpartum Hemorrhage (PPH) Task Force, which aims to develop a national strategy for preventing and managing PPH.

It is essential that the Nigerian government and other stakeholders continue to prioritize maternal health and take concrete steps to address the high rate of PPH and maternal mortality in the country.