SOGON: Nigeria Falling Short Of SDG On Mother-Child Deaths

The Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria (SOGON) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) to assent to the Maternal Perinatal and Child Death Surveillance and Response Bill while lamenting maternal deaths in the country.

SOGON President, Dr. Habib Sadauki, said today in Abuja, “Nigeria’s maternal mortality rate is still among the highest in the world, with an estimated 512 deaths per 100,000 live births, which is nowhere near the Social Development Goal’s target of 70 per 100,000 live-births.

“There is still a lack of access to, and utilization of family planning services in Nigeria, with only 22 percent of women using any method of family planning, including modern methods.

“Gender-Based Violence is still dominant in Nigeria, with one in three women reporting one form of physical and sexual abuse or another among others.

“The Maternal Perinatal and Child Death Surveillance and Response is a laudable intervention that can potentially reduce maternal and newborn deaths.

“It empowers each community, health facility, and state to reflect on deaths incurred in their domain and respond with locally appropriate solutions for preventing the reoccurrence of similar deaths,” he remarked.