Fetomaternal Health: Referral Hospital Needed in all Geo-political Zones
The Association of Fetomaternal Medicine Specialists of Nigeria (AFEMSON) has appealed to the Federal Government to establish dedicated maternal and newborn referral hospitals in all the geo-political zones of the country.
The outgoing President of the association, Professor Saturday Etuk, made the appeal in a communique issued at the end of the sixth scientific conference of the association in Abuja.
The association decried the lack of maternal referral hospitals in the country, saying that with the facility, it would be easy to manage high-risk pregnancies and deliveries.
It also noted that there was a rising spate of rhesus isoimmunization and sensitisation among women in Nigeria on the background of the high cost of anti-immunoglobin.
The association disclosed that there is also a low level of skilled health personnel at primary and secondary health care levels, leading to high maternal and newborn death.
Read Also:
Read Also: Anambra: UNICEF Trains Health Workers on Maternal, Infant Mortality
AFEMSON called for training and retraining of health personnel in the conduct of implementation of science research.
According to it, there has been poor translation of research outputs on maternal and newborn children into clinical practice in Nigeria, adding that the government must be courageous to establish dedicated maternal and newborn referral hospitals in all the geopolitical zones.
The association also called for increased awareness on rhesus isoimmunization and the accompanying dangers for women of childbearing age, including the girl child.
It said that government must also ensure appropriate staffing and the sustenance of such personnel at both primary and secondary healthcare levels.
AFEMSON held that appropriate staffing of health workers would curtail significantly, the burden of maternal and newborn child morbidity and mortality.
The association, however, appreciated the contribution of all those who were present at the scientific conference, including invited guests and speakers,” the association stated.
(NAN)
