No reason for any woman to die during pregnancy, child delivery — UNICEF

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has reiterated that there is no reason any woman should die during pregnancy or delivery in this modern age of technology.

This assertion was made by the Chief of Field, UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, Dr Nuzhat Rafique while delivering opening remarks during a two-day media dialogue on “Strengthening Primary Healthcare Systems: GAVI – UNICEF PHC MoU,” held in Gombe on Tuesday.

Dr. Rafique described as unacceptable the situation where “10,000 women die during pregnancy or at delivery out of 100,000,” adding that it is “a trend that must be checked and stopped.”

She added that every hand must be on deck to seek solutions to the problem because, according to her, “Every woman has the right to good healthcare services during pregnancy until safe delivery at the facility provided.”

“I am a mother; I have my children, and I know the pains and joys of motherhood; no woman wants to have complications during pregnancy and delivery; no woman wants to lose a child. We must all work together to give her and her child life,” she added.

Nuzhat Rafique also said that the issue of zero doses of vaccine and immunisation is worrisome and must be addressed appropriately by the relevant stakeholders, the reason the GAVI – UNICEF MoU for Gombe and Taraba States was signed in 2022.

She stressed that every child must be made to have full doses of the required vaccination and immunisation; that is the aim and objective of the MoU, stressing that every child must be reached no matter where he or she is.

The UNICEF CFO recognised the important role of the media in changing the narrative positively through the various platforms and sustainable reportage, as well as focusing on the effectiveness of healthcare service delivery.

She stressed that media practitioners must join hands with UNICEF to ensure that women and children are kept alive through education and enlightenment campaigns.

Nuzhat Rafique therefore urged the participants in the dialogue to make the most of the opportunity and evolve ways of passing the messages across to the target audience.

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