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Lawmaker Attributes Maternal and Infant Mortality in Nigeria to Churches and Mosques

Maternal and infant deaths remain a critical challenge in Nigeria, with 158 women dying daily due to childbirth complications. Dr. Richard Edosa, a member of the Edo State House of Assembly, has pointed out that churches, mosques, and traditional institutions are contributing to this crisis. He also emphasized the roles of poor healthcare knowledge and unqualified medical practitioners in worsening the situation.

Speaking as the Chairman of the House Committee on Health, Dr. Edosa addressed these issues during a visit by the National Population Commission (NPC) to the Assembly in Benin City. The NPC’s Federal Commissioner, Dr. Tony Aiyejina, shared details of an ongoing e-birth registration program that aims to register children aged 0–5 years and issue free birth certificates and National Identification Numbers.

Dr. Edosa commended the initiative, saying it would help create a database for better health planning and policymaking. He noted that children under five are highly vulnerable to illnesses, making the program essential for securing their future.

The NPC’s e-registration program, already active in other states, was delayed in Edo due to the recent governorship election but is now on track to end by December 2024. The initiative ensures that every child in Nigeria can access essential services like healthcare and education.

In addition to e-registration, the NPC is conducting the 2024 Verbal and Social Autopsy (VASA) study to identify the causes of deaths among children under five and women of reproductive age. The findings are expected to guide policies to reduce mortality rates in these groups.

“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,”
 he said.

Dr. Edosa assured the NPC of the Assembly’s support, emphasizing the need to work together to save lives and improve the country’s health system. This collaboration, he said, is key to addressing the root causes of maternal and infant deaths in Nigeria.

With programs like e-birth registration and VASA, there is hope for better healthcare outcomes for mothers and children in the country.

“You need to try and convince the people because Nigerians have become pessimistic. They tend to doubt every initiative presented by the government.

“People don’t understand that data collection is very vital to national development. Without data, the government cannot plan for its people,”
 he added.

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