Edo lawmaker lists churches, traditional institutions among causes of maternal, infant mortality
Quick Read
While speaking on the NPC’s 2024 Verbal and Social Autopsy (VASA) programme, Edosa who represents Oredo West and Chairman of House Committee on Health, disclosed that 158 women die daily from childbirth complications. He said: "The leading causes of maternal and infant mortality include lack of knowledge and quackery in the medical profession. 158 women die daily from childbirth complications.
By Jethro Ibileke
A member of Edo State House of Assembly, Dr. Richard Edosa, has listed quackery in the medical profession, traditional institutions and churches as leading causes of maternal and infant mortality in the country.
The lawmaker stated this on Thursday when the Federal Commissioner of National Population Commission (NPC), in the State, Tony Aiyejina, paid a courtesy visit to the Deputy Speaker of the House, Maria Edeko.
While speaking on the NPC’s 2024 Verbal and Social Autopsy (VASA) programme, Edosa who represents Oredo West and Chairman of House Committee on Health, disclosed that 158 women die daily from childbirth complications.
He said: “The leading causes of maternal and infant mortality include lack of knowledge and quackery in the medical profession. 158 women die daily from childbirth complications.
“The traditional institutions and churches also contributed to maternal and infant mortality.
“When some pregnant women come to the hospital and are told that the baby is not well-positioned, requiring surgery to deliver the baby, they often run to the church. In most cases, by the time they return to the hospital, it is already too late.”
The lawmaker who commended the NPC for the laudable initiative on e-birth registration, also disclosed that children aged 0-5 years are vulnerable to complex diseases.
He noted that taking a census of children would help create a database for planning and policymaking to secure their future.
The lawmaker, said the House was ready to cooperate with the commission to ensure that it achieve its goal, as well as give it all the support they also need to succeed.
Earlier, the NPC Federal Commissioner in Edo, Dr Tony Aiyejina, said the visit was to inform the House of the Commission’s plan to carry out e-registration of children under 0-5 years in the state.
He further explained that children aged 0-5 years would be registered and provided with a National Identification Number and birth certificate at no cost.
Comments