Saraki Calls for Legislation to Address Childbirth Mortality on International Day of the Midwife

As Abuja declares open the inaugural International Midwifery Conference open, the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has congratulated midwives across the nation for their contributions towards the healthcare of Nigerian women and newborn children.

The Senate President, who is a medical doctor by profession, stated that over the years, midwives have helped to improve the maternal healthcare options available to Nigerian women.

Saraki further stated “According to data available from UNICEF, the deaths of newborn babies in Nigeria represents a quarter of the total number of deaths of children under-five.”

In this regard, as the event hosted by the National Association of Nigerian Nurses hand Midwives (NANNM), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the WellBeing Foundation Africa kicks-off, Saraki stated that the Senate and the 8th National Assembly would work out ways to partner with organisations that help to promote the life-saving work of midwives across the nation.

“As we declare the inaugural International Midwifery Conference in Abuja open,” Saraki said, “The 8th Assembly will partner with organisations and other stakeholders to provide legislation that will help to strengthen the efforts of midwives in Nigeria to enable them provide better support for expecting mothers.”

According to UNICEF, a Nigerian woman’s chances of dying from pregnancy and childbirth is 1 in 13, and presently, only about 20 per cent of health facilities offer emergency obstetric care and only 35 per cent of deliveries are attended by skilled birth attendants.