Despite the progress made in recent times by Nigeria and many other countries in reducing child and maternal deaths, a newly released Countdown to 2015 Decade Report (2000 to 2010) says lack of skilled attendants at birth accounts for two million preventable maternal deaths, stillbirths and newborn deaths each year.
The report listed Nigeria as one of the 10 countries, which may not meet Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 4 and 5. The situation is expected to have been the reverse with the launch of the Midwives Service Scheme (MSS) last year by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA). The MSS is expected to ensure the availability of skilled birth care in Primary Health Centres (PHCs) across the country and reverse the poor maternal, newborn and child health outcomes in Nigeria.
The midwives were to offer ante natal, natal and post-natal services. They were given refresher training courses as well as additional skills in the management of common childhood illness. The MSS is touted as a significant step in the national efforts towards improving skilled attendance at delivery and indeed accelerating progress in the attainment of MDGs 4 and 5.
In spite of the MSS government initiative, Countdown 2015 Decade Report count Nigeria one of the 10 countries that showed decrease in the use of skilled birth attendance.
Source: Global Child Mortality Rate Hits Two Million Mark
By Chukuwma Muanya
The Guardian, Wednesday June 9, 2010
