By Bello Adisa
Stakeholders on maternal health in Nigeria have called on professional medical bodies to step up checks on mandatory continuous education of members to reduce maternal deaths in the country.
In a communique at the end of a one day Forum on Maternal Health Accountability in Kaduna Northwest Nigeria, the stakeholders expressed concern on how Nigerian women keep dying in pregnancy and childbirth related cases.
They stressed that quackery and unethical practices have led to the death of many women hence the need for professional bodies, as well as regulatory bodies to step up surveillance on health service providers with a view to addressing such deaths.
The stakeholders called on government to ensure timely supply of drugs and other consumable at the public health facilities to encourage patronage by citizens.
Participants at the Forum also want civil society organisations and the media to hold government to account on providing accessible healthcare services to the populace.
The communique in parts read, “Government should ensure adequate, and availability of Drugs and consumables in health facilities.
“The media should partner CSO’s and showcase MCH programs in Kaduna state.
“The media should allocate more time in their news reportage and. Programming and focus on maternal and child health issues.
“The CSO’s should continue in their Advocacy to reach out to more stakeholders,
“The CSO’s should continue with sensitization in the communities for community members to patronize health facilities for maternal health attention.
“The CSO’s should collaborate with the media executives on promoting maternal health issues in Kaduna state,” the communique however reads.
