TO reduce maternal mortality levels and complement government's efforts on health care services, a group of women doctors under the aegis of Doctors Health Initiative (DHI) has launched a maternal mortality reduction campaign to provide safe blood and emergency obstetric care in the country.
Speaking at the occasion recently, the group's President, Dr. Mrs. Obi Ideh, at the Regent Chinese Cuisine, Victoria Island, Lagos, identified none availability of safe blood in a situation of uncontrolled bleeding as one of the major factors against unnecessary death in women, especially during childbirth.
"The number one cause of death in women, especially during childbirth, is haemorrhage. It accounts for 23 per cent of maternal deaths. Availability of safe blood is crucial to reducing maternal mortality. Even in a cosmopolitan place like Lagos, there are many gaps in health care delivery.
"For instance, a pregnant woman in Lekki Phase 1, who requires an emergency blood transfusion, must have her blood sent to the closest blood bank, which is on Victoria Island to have it tested before it is taken back to her. This blood transfusion processing sometimes takes over an hour and death as a result of bleeding in pregnancy takes less than one hour. It is, therefore, clear why many of our expectant mothers die daily," she said.
According to her, the aim of the campaign is to sensitise the public on the issue and get community participation in resolving the matter, adding that the last stage of the campaign would be the provision of blood banks project to provide emergency obstetric care nationwide for such women.
Chairman of the event Col. Paul Obi (rtd.) commended the members of DHI for the novel idea and urged the participants at the event to support their initiative.
Deputy Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Mrs. Tejuosho, who lauded the group for initiating the project, encouraged people to donate blood.
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