The Programme Officer, Maternal Health, UNFPA Nigeria, Dr.Rabi Sagir and the President, National Association of Nigeria Pediatrics Nurses (NAPAN), Mrs Olubunmi Ayedun, made this known at a sensitization programme, jointly organized by the UNFPA and NANNM, in Abuja to commemorate the 2018 World Midwifery Day.
The programme, according to Dr Sagir is to sensitise women of reproductive age to go for ante-natal care whenever they are pregnant. It is also to encourage women and men of all age cadres to access hospital for medical check-up and seek care at health facilities when they are ill.
The UNFPA Programme Officer said: “Our main issue is women having access to prompt and quality obstetric care. Many women in Nigeria do not attend ante-natal care, it is even worse in delivery at facilities.
Less 40 percent of pregnant women deliver in health facilities, many prefer to deliver at home assisted by no one due to socio-cultural reasons.”
Dr Sagir added: “We are here in commemoration of the international midwifery day which is marked globally on May 5, every year, to recognise the key role midwives play in saving the lives of women and young children.
“Nigerian Nurses and Midwives association in collaboration with UNFPA are taking health services to the underserved population, poor and the vulnerable Nigerians with health services.nAnte-natal services are provided, Blood Pressure checks are being done and young children are being provided with basic health needs.”
On the negative attitude of health workers to their patients, Sagir said the UNFPA also recognized that health care worker’s attitude can negatively impact on the patient decides to seek care, while it can also negatively impact on demand for health care services.
“In this regard, the UNFPA in partnership with other international organizations launched the Global Charter on Respectful Maternity Care to improve the attitude of health workers. The charter was to enable healthcare workers to have more respect for the patients and also enable them to recognize that their clients have rights to a quality health care.”
In her own remarks, Mrs Aye fun said: “The time of pregnancy is a very sensitive and delicate period, that is why as Nigerian midwives, we are here to sensitize women on how to keep our babies safe.
“In this community, we have discovered that many women in the community do not attend ante-natal clinics during pregnancy, and delivery. You can see everywhere they have been sensitised and mobilised, and we have also informed them about the importance of attending antenatal clinics and hospital delivery.”
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