NEWS: 555 Pregnant Women May Die In Lagos – LASG

 Lagos State Government says on Tuesday that 555 pregnant women may die from every 100,000 live births in Lagos according to reports. Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, who spoke at a Town Hall meeting on Maternal Mortality held at the Shomolu Local Government Area of Lagos, Southwest Nigeria also called on nursing and expectant mothers to join hands with the government to reduce maternal mortality in the state. According to Idris, the figure was unacceptable, while identifying hemorrhage, spepsi, unsafe abortion eclampsia and obstructed labour as the common direct causes of maternal mortality in developing countries. Idris said studies had also shown that for every 100,000 live births, about 800 women would die, saying that out of 27 million women of reproductive age, about two million would not survive either pregnancy or childbirth due to diseases or causes that are avoidable, preventable and treatable. To prevent death rate resulting from reproduction, the commissioner said that the government was determined to provide essential maternal care, consisting of intervention that are most likely to reduce maternal deaths and promote maternal health. “This is why this town hall is important. We have come to listen and discuss with you, the people of Shomolu how to effect these behavioural changes that will reduce maternal and child deaths. Some examples of behavioural change that we want you to imbibe include eating a healthy diet , avoiding alcohol or herbal concoction consumption, using a bed net to protect against malaria arranging for a skilled birth attendant at labour and delivery. During childhood, we expect our children to receive all their immunization and attend growth monitoring clinics,” he said. Wife of the Lagos State Governor, Mrs Bolanle Ambode charged the traditional birth attendants to always know their limitation and promptly refer pregnant women with complications to the nearest health facilities. Mrs Ambode appealed to the nursing mothers especially the expectant mothers to be wary of their diet and the drug they used so as to prevent complications.