Death is a difficult topic. But still is in an inevitable end for all human beings, the trauma and anxiety of someone dying (especially, the woman) in the family is intense and excruciating. According to the United Nations, every minute, at least one woman dies from complications related to pregnancy or childbirth – that means 529 000 women a year. In addition, for every woman who dies in childbirth, around 20 more suffer injury, infection or disease – approximately 10 million women each year.
I visited a mortuary( owned by a hospital) recently and was amazed at the number of women, dead as a result of pregnancy related cause. Does it mean Pregnancy kills? or that Getting pregnant is a licence to death?. Then I recommend, that the easiest way to die in Nigeria is by getting pregnant (with all seriousness).
Reports have shown that, complications in pregnancy account for more than 70% of maternal deaths: haemorrhage (25%), infection (15%), unsafe abortion (13%), eclampsia (very high blood pressure leading to seizures – 12%), and obstructed labour (8%). While these are the main causes of maternal death, unavailable, inaccessible, unaffordable, or poor quality care is fundamentally responsible. They are detrimental to social development and wellbeing, as some one million children are left motherless each year. These children are 10 times more likely to die within two years of their mothers’ death.
Women need not die in childbirth. We must give a young woman the information and support she needs to control her reproductive health, help her through a pregnancy, and care for her and her newborn well into childhood. The vast majority of maternal deaths could be prevented if women had access to quality family planning services, skilled care during pregnancy, childbirth and the first month after delivery, or post-abortion care services and where permissible, safe abortion services. 15% of pregnancies and childbirths need emergency obstetric care because of risks that are difficult to predict. A working health system with skilled personnel is key to saving these women’s lives.
A visit to your mortuary (except for the Muslim women who are buried soon after their death) will surely give you an idea that this is not just statistics but numbers that represents lives, lives of women that die as a result of childbirth. This year’s Safe Motherhood Day on 22nd May, aims to raise awareness of maternal, newborn and child health, and highlight these issues as a priority for governments and the international community.
Please visit the nearest mortuary and share your thoughts.
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