ABUJA – The United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) says it will help strengthen Nigeria’s midwifery programme to reduce maternal and infant mortality in the shortest time possible.
The UNFPA Country Representative in Nigeria, Mrs Ratidza Ndhlovu, disclosed this at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja.
She said cultural and religious barriers that hitherto impeded the success of safe and effective health practices in reproductive health and family planning could be addressed through the midwifery programme.
- Cue in audio 1 (on midwifery)
“Midwifery is critical for reducing maternal mortality and infant mortality.
“So the midwife is so critical for the survival of mothers; and it is the midwife, who will teach the woman who has just delivered about family planning; it is the midwife who will talk about ante natal care.
“So, for us, we want to strengthen the midwifery programme and we are really going out of our way since 2013 – even this year – to enhance the programme of midwifery.
“And we have a lot of partners in the country, who are ready to work with us.“
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The country representative said that the efficacy of the globally acclaimed family planning therapy in addressing maternal mortality could be driven more effectively through a well-articulated midwife scheme.
She said that the UNFPA had in the past years demonstrated that a well-coordinated midwifery service scheme could go a long way in reducing infant and maternal mortality.
Ndhlovu expressed regret at other partners’ lack of interest in the programme, saying that the agency had recorded positive results in its family planning advocacy through its well-coordinated midwifery scheme.
According to her, UNFPA has been most effective with its worldwide family planning advocacy which has helped in reducing infant and maternal deaths.
On its Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF) intervention in Nigeria, Ndhlovu said that a new approach that would integrate comprehensive family planning and basic health education had been adopted.
She said that the new approach would address the challenges associated with child marriage, cultural and religious practices, among other issues.
- Cue in audio 2 on fistula
“What we realised in UNFPA is if you focus on the treatment for fistula without addressing the prevention measures very strongly, the problem will not stop.
“One of the things causing it to increase includes the age at which young girls get pregnant and have to deliver.
“But then it hinges many other issues that need to be addressed in a very careful, strategic manner.
“So we are integrating family planning into our fistula programme; we also want to make sure that as [pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]part of the fistula programme, we advocate reduction in child marriages because it is a big contribution to fistula.
“If you go to fistula centres, you will find that 90 per cent (of the women there) are little girls.“
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She spoke of the need for parents, guardians and community leaders to pay attention to the welfare of young girls in their care.
Ndhlovu said that during early marriage, the girl-child could experience other challenges in life apart from VVF.
She stressed that even in situations where young girls were given out early in marriage they could be allowed to live a normal life until they were ready for pregnancy.
She said, “It is wiser for young girls, who are married to be able to wait until they are physically grown up and ready to deliver.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in 2014 nearly 27,000 women received VVF treatment and care with direct support from UNFPA. (NAN)
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