Would you like to receive notifications on latest updates of the following headlines?

Maternal Death: FG plans care for 1.7m pregnant rural women

POSTED ON November 28, 2024 •   HEALTH & WELLNESS      BY Benedicta Bassey
A photo illustration of a pregnant woman. Photo: IAN WALDIE/GETTY

EKITI STATE, Nigeria — In a bid to curb maternal death in the country, the Federal Government has said that the Rural Emergency Service and Maternal Transportation initiative will focus on saving 1.7 million pregnant women in rural areas.

The project is being undertaken by the Federal Ministry of Health in partnership with the World Bank aimed at breaching the gaps in accessing appropriate, timely and affordable healthcare for pregnant women.

This was made known by the representative of the National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System, Adejoke Dada during a stakeholders’ meeting in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State.

The project which will commence officially in January 2025 will be undertaken in 15 IMPACT Project states.

She said, “This programme is to help 1.7 million pregnant women to access affordable and qualitative emergency care so that these women in the rural areas do not die of childbirth anymore and also to ensure that our newborns too do not die of morbidity diseases that are associated with neonatal.

“This initiative is championed by the Minister of Health, Prof Ali Pate, that we should empower 15 states as the first batch so that the communities which have high mortality and morbidity rates could be assisted to access timely, affordable and adequate emergency care for the rural women and children under five and neonatal,” Dada said.

A resource person with NEMSAS, Dr Prosper Ahworegba, said under the RESMAT initiative, the World Bank would provide ambulances in different wards in the 15 beneficiary states for emergency transportation of pregnant women and children to primary healthcare centres and obstetrics and newborn centres.

Ahworegba said, “A lot of women die because of lack of access to healthcare when they are pregnant. The figures for maternal and infant mortality across Nigeria are very high.

“While the UK has just seven deaths per 100,000 live births, Nigeria has between 576 and 615 deaths per 100,000 live births. This is embarrassing. That is why the Federal Ministry of Health feels that we should help women in rural areas.

“A preponderance of those who die are in the rural areas and most of them die because they cannot access transportation to the nearest hospital that can take care of them. That is the essence of our presence here.

“The World Bank will provide the ambulances, but people will pay a token so that it will be sustainable.

“The ambulance will be in that ward so that if there is a need to move a child who is sick or a pregnant woman who requires extra care, that person will be moved immediately to the next comprehensive emergency obstetrics and newborn centre.

“We have 15 states for this IMPACT Project. We expect to help 1.7 million pregnant women in rural areas and save them from early deaths due to pregnancy-related causes,” the medical expert said.

The Executive Secretary of Ekiti State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Ayodele Seluwa, who represented the Commissioner for Health, Dr Oyebanji Filani, said the initiative would boost healthcare delivery in terms of access to care.

READ ALSO
Dengue Fever Outbreak, 86 Cases Confirmed
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 4, 2025 0

EDO, Nigeria - The Ministry of Health in Edo State reported on Friday that there is an outbreak of d...

READ ALSO
Over 50% of Psychiatric Admissions Linked to Drug Abuse in Yola- Psychiatrist
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 27, 2025 0

YOLA, Nigeria - A consultant psychiatrist, Joel Umar, noted that a significant increase in drug abus...

READ ALSO
Kylian Mbappé to rejoin Team after Food Poison Treatment
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 20, 2025 0

France and Real Madrid of Spain forward, Kylian Mbappe, has been discharged from hospital after bein...

READ ALSO
WHO Unveils First Global Guidelines for Managing Sickle Cell Disease in Pregnancy
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 19, 2025 0

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has introduced its inaugural global guideline for managing sickl...

READ ALSO
NDLEA Alerts Parents: Watch for Suspicious Snacks in Children's Bags
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 15, 2025 0

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has issued a serious warning to parents, advising t...

READ ALSO
Health Council Workers Face Salary Delays Due to Federal Funding Cuts
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 11, 2025 0

More than 1,500 health professionals associated with the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria hav...

READ ALSO
WHO Declares Mpox Public Health Emergency of International Concern
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 11, 2025 0

The World Health Organization has stated that the ongoing rise in mpox cases qualifies as a Public H...

READ ALSO
Students mobilise for Malaria Contest with N1b Geneith health
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 5, 2025 0

In an effort to tackle one of Nigeria’s deadliest diseases, Geneith Pharmaceuticals Ltd has la...

OUR CHANNELS:

Reinventing Nigeria’s Fiscal Framework: A Call for Unity and Responsibility
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 9, 2025 0

President Bola Tinubu has emphasized his government's dedication to allocating sufficient resources...


CBN Mandates Capital Restoration Plans for Banks: A Step Towards Regulatory Compliance
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 8, 2025 0

The Central Bank of Nigeria has instructed banks to provide a capital restoration plan as part of it...


Nigeria Faces Teacher Shortage: Over 31 Million Learners Rely on Just 915,913 Educators
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 9, 2025 0

According to data from the Universal Basic Education, only 915,913 teachers are available for at lea...


Tinubu Calls for Equitable Global Framework at BRICS Summit
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 8, 2025 0

President Bola Tinubu has advocated for a more equitable global framework regarding climate action,...


Two Men Charged in CBEX Investment Scheme Remain in Custody
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 8, 2025 0

A Federal High Court in Abuja has placed two businessmen, Aweruso Otorudo and Chukwuebuka Ehirim, in...


LASG Takes Action, Dismantled  Illegal Checkpoints Along Badagry Expressway
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 8, 2025 0

LAGOS, Nigeria - The Lagos State government has dismantled illegal checkpoints along the Lagos&ndash...


Natasha's Return Plans on Hold as Senate Awaits Court Judgment Copy
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 8, 2025 0

The suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has declared her intention...


Nigerian States Accumulate N417.7 Billion in Domestic Debt Amid Rising FAAC Revenue
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 8, 2025 0

At least 10 Nigerian states have cumulatively increased their domestic debt by N417.7 billion from t...


Governor Otti Facilitates Release of Inmates After 26 Years
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 9, 2025 0

Governor Alex Otti of Abia State on Saturday welcomed three Nigerians who were released after spendi...


Tinubu Pledges to Eliminate Bureaucratic Hurdles in Agriculture During Bilateral Talks with Brazil
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 9, 2025 0

President Bola Tinubu expressed his commitment on Saturday to his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inacio...


More Articles

Load more...

Menu