NANNM calls for more employment of midwives

The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has called on the government at all tiers to take some precautions and safety measures to reduce childhood mortality and maternal death, which are still very high in the country, especially in the rural areas.

The association said childhood and maternal deaths can further be reduced if government employed trained midwives and provide equipment at the medical facilities with needed materials.

First National Vice President, NANNM, Co-ordination and Chairperson of Midwifery sector of NANNM, Mrs Margaret Akinsola and the National President, NANNM, Abdulrafiu Adeniji, who made the call were both speaking at a press conference to commemorate the 2017 International Day of the Midwives in Abuja.

According to Mrs Akinsola, “childhood and maternal mortality is higher in rural areas than in urban areas. These deaths can be further lessened and prevented if the government takes some precautions and safety measures by ensuring that midwives trained to carry out these duties are employed; facilities are equipped with needed materials and equipment to carry out these tasks.

“The era of using the less-skilled health workers should be erased as this has not helped to lessen the menace of maternal and infant mortality rates in the country.”

She pointed out that access to a skilled midwife can help reduce and prevent deaths of more than 287,000 women at child birth, and also reduce drastically those left with morbidities as a result of birth injuries.

Abdulrafiu in his remarks also denounced the poor state of infrastructures in the nation’s hospitals, adding that the development remains a great challenge to delivery of quality services by health professionals.

He also decried the shortage of skilled midwives across hospitals in the country and appealed to government at all levels to disengage unskilled midwives used by their predecessors.

According to him, such unskilled persons have not helped to achieve desired improvement in the health of mothers and children in the country.