The Chairman of the Edo State House of Assembly Committee on Health, Dr. Richard Edosa, has identified traditional institutions, churches, and a lack of knowledge in the medical profession as major contributors to Nigeria’s alarming rates of maternal and infant mortality.
Edosa, who represents Oredo West constituency, made this assertion during a visit by the National Population Commission (NPC) team, led by Dr. Tony Aiyejina, to the Deputy Speaker of the House, Maria Edeko, at the Assembly Complex in Benin City.
Speaking on the NPC’s 2024 Verbal and Social Autopsy (VASA) programme, Edosa lamented the high maternal mortality rate in the country, disclosing that 158 women die daily from childbirth complications.
“Traditional institutions and churches are significant contributors to maternal and infant mortality.
Many pregnant women, when informed of complications requiring surgery, abandon hospitals for churches or traditional healers. By the time they return, it is often too late,” he said.
He further decried the role of quackery in the medical field and the public’s limited knowledge of proper healthcare practices, noting that children under five years remain vulnerable to complex diseases.
Edosa, the only Labour Party member in the House, commended the NPC for its initiative on e-birth registration, emphasizing the importance of accurate data for planning and policymaking. He urged the Commission to build public trust in its initiatives.
“Nigerians have become skeptical of government programmes. It is essential to enlighten them about the significance of data collection for national development. Without data, planning becomes impossible,” he stated.
Earlier, the NPC Federal Commissioner in Edo, Dr. Tony Aiyejina, briefed the lawmakers on the Commission’s ongoing initiatives, including the e-registration of children aged 0-5 years, which will provide birth certificates and National Identification Numbers at no cost.
He revealed that while the exercise started in August 2023 across other states, its commencement in Edo was delayed due to the recently concluded governorship election.
The initiative, he said, is scheduled to end on December 31, 2024.
Aiyejina also highlighted the NPC’s ongoing VASA study, which seeks to identify the causes and contributory factors of deaths among women of reproductive age and children under five.
He appealed to lawmakers for support in creating awareness about the initiatives, stressing that the programmes are crucial to ensuring every Nigerian child has access to education, healthcare, and other essential services.
“The success of these programmes depends on collaboration with stakeholders, including lawmakers, to enlighten the public about their importance,” he said.
The Edo Assembly pledged its full cooperation with the NPC to ensure the success of its initiatives aimed at improving maternal and child health outcomes in the state.
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