A Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist and the Coordinator of Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria (SOGON), Cross River State branch, Prof. Mabel Ekott, has stated that eight hundred (800) women die every day during childbirth in Nigeria - with religion contributing its quota.

Ekott who stated this in a workshop organised in Calabar on Wednesday, November 27, 2019, by SOGON with the theme 'Partnership with the Church for improved maternal newborn health', added that the death toll amasses to forty-seven thousand (47,000) every year. She said the workshop is meant to educate Church Leaders on the need of ensuring their pregnant women deliver in hospitals.

"The recent survey shows that 800 women die everyday and 47,000 die annually during child birth in Nigeria. Nigeria leads the world in maternal death with a total of 2.6 million. That's a lot and we are trying our best to ensure that number reduce drastically", Ekott said.

She said that Prayer Houses contribute the highest rate, adding that most of these deaths could be prevented if the women could get to the hospital and receive care from trained healthcare personnel (who are; Doctors and Nurse Midwest, CHEWS).

Stressing on the partnership with religious leaders, Ekott said, "We also know that religious leaders have a lot of influence on the congratulation and almost 80% of us go to church and listen to what the pastor say. We listen to their advise and wise counsel - so we felt it wise to bring the church leaders together from different churches in Calabar and present the date to them. Tell them the care a pregnant woman should receive, tell them the care a newborn baby should receive, tell them about where women lose their lives and that of their babies and ways to prevent them.

"We want to collaborate with them, we want to forge a partnership so that they can track every woman (especially the pregnant ones) in their congregation. They should monitor and ensure that the woman gets to hospital and deliver safely and the baby is well cared for".

Speaking also, the Permanent Secretary, Cross River State Ministry of Health, Dr. Joseph Bassey, ably represented Dr. I. E. Esien, said SOGON is taking on a big responsibility in Cross River State which is well appreciated by the Government.

"When we go to church, we should respect the church protocols and when we come to the hospital, we should also respect the hospital's protocols. We appeal that we should corporate in the appropriate way to end maternal death", he added.

A renowned clergyman, Rev. (Dr.) Fubara Manuel of Revelation Ministries, Calabar, advised pastors and ministers that "it is better to spend church money on our pregnant women than buying expensive caskets.

"Let us stop raring the dogs and forgetting to do the right thing. For caesarean section (C-S) that many forbids: is there anything wrong with opening up a woman? When you say thus saith the Lord and a woman dies, you are a fake pastor", he added.

SOURCE & FULL STORY AT: https://paradisenews.ng/45417/800-women-die-everyday-childbirth-nigeria-prof-ekott

Please, stop going to Prayer Houses, churches to deliver - go to the Hospital, for it is the best place to give birth.

Who is counting?

I once met a patient relative crying in the special care baby unit, talked to her only to find out it was because her sister had a caesarean section. The baby and mother were fine. After explaining there was nothing wrong in having a CS she felt relieved, even started smiling. The scales of ignorance had been lifted and the heart light again. Churches have made CS a taboo, a case of the ignorant leading the ignorant. Pathetic.

...and we still have women walking around the country? Who thought up this lie? Is that you, white man?

You're right, ignorant is killing us more than diseases.

MessangerOfTrut:
I once met a patient relative crying in the special care baby unit, talked to her only to find out it was because her sister had a caesarean section. The baby and mother were fine. After explaining there was nothing wrong in having a CS she felt relieved, even started smiling. The scales of ignorance had been lifted and the heart light again. Churches have made CS a taboo, a case of the ignorant leading the ignorant. Pathetic.