Segun Babatunde, Bauchi
The active role of men towards providing support to mitigate maternal, perinatal and child deaths in Bauchi State has been stressed.
The men are particularly called to ensure that their wives attend health facilities close to them to access healthcare services from qualified medical personnel.
Our Correspondent reports that recently, Multiple Indication Cluster Survey (MICS)2021 indicated that early childhood death rates are higher in Bauchi State compared to the rates for the Northeast and the national rates of children dying before age 5.
The assertion was made by the Officer in charge of the Maternity Department of the General Hospital, Misau, Eunice Oladeru while speaking with members of an CSO, Journalists for Public Health Development and Initiative (J4PD) who visited the Maternity to have first hand information on the Maternal, Perinatal Child Death Surveillance Response (MPCDSR) activities.
Oladeru stressed that for achieving the objectives of Maternal, Perinatal Child Death Surveillance Response in the state, men must effectively participate in all issues of family health.
She explained that the support of the men is required through ensuring that issues of health of the pregnant woman and her child were taken seriously.
According to her, “The support of the man will instil confidence in the woman as it will encourage her to visit the health facility especially during the pregnancy period for Antenatal care (ANC) which will reduce the maternal mortality rate.
Oladeru stressed that staff of the Maternity are doing their to best to provide quality healthcare service delivery to all the clients accessing the facility assuring that they will continue to give their best.
Also speaking, a Staff of the Maternity, Fatima Mohammed Bashir expressed dismay at the attitude of men who don’t support their wives particularly those who are pregnant from going to health facilities for care.
Fatimah Bashir who is a Registered Nurse and Registered Midwife (RNRM) said that the lack of attending ANC has remained the major issue militating against quality healthcare service delivery in the area as many of the men prefer to have their wives deliver at home.
According to her, “Some pregnant women will brought to the facility at the last hour after the condition must have been complicated. In such situations, there is little or nothing we can do as health workers.”
She also said that the introduction of MPCDSR has really assisted in reducing issues of maternal mortality and infant mortality rates in Misau local government area because according to her, “The MPCDSR committee do review some of the cases periodically.”
The Registered Nurse added that MPCDSR has improved access to quality healthcare service delivery in terms of safe deliveries and care for the child immediately after delivery.
She stressed that there are follow ups for MPCDSR review cases that are close by while those that are far away are hardly followed up diue to the distance of the villages.
Fatima Bashir also lamented that referrals are not done good time by primary healthcare facilities a development that is increasing the fatalities during birth leafing to excessive bleeding which will in turn result to death of the pregnant woman and the unborn child.
She then called on the Journalists to assist through education on the need for the men to support their wives to immediately begin visits to the nearest health facilities for care during pregnancy to preserve the lives of the mother and child.
According to her, “The Media is a veritable medium to effect positive attitudinal change among the people. We are soliciting for your support and cooperation to achieve quality healthcare service delivery.”
