Maternal Mortality: Media Practitioners Charged on Continues Awareness Creation
By Alex Uangbaoje, Kaduna
Media practitioners has been urged not to relent in creating awareness on the issues that affect women in the society, as no level of awareness is too much in saving lives of women.
Christy Alabi, a journalist with Daily Trust Newspaper, made the call in Kaduna during a discussion segment at a roundtable forum on Safe Motherhood” organised by Development Communications (DevComs) Network and Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI), for media practitioners.
According to her, the death rate of women globally especially pregnancy related deaths, is alarming and that since there is no deliberate policy by the government, their hope of survival depends on how far the media can go in creating awareness.
Earlier in a paper delivered by the Executive Director, Africa Media Development Foundation (AMDF), Iliya Kure, revealed that about 576 women out of every 100,000 births die as a result of pregnancy related deaths in Nigeria.
Kure, noted that the only solution to curbing Maternal Mortality is through Family Planning (FP), this according to him can also help Nigeria to attain the 36% Contraceptive Prevalence Rate.
“It has been estimated that meeting women’s need for modern contraceptives would prevent about one-quarter to one-third of all maternal deaths, saving 140,000 to 150,000 lives per day.
“Family Planning offers a host of additional health, social and economic benefits; it can help slow the spread of HIV, promote gender equality, reduce poverty, accelerate socio-economic development and protect environment.” He added
