As the Inaugural Global Midwifery Conference in Nigeria rounds off in Abuja, in commemoration of the International Day of the Midwife, Senate President, Bukola Saraki has congratulated midwives across the nation for their contributions towards the healthcare of Nigerian women and newborns. The Senate President, whom is known to be a medical doctor by profession, stated that over the years, midwives have helped to improve the maternal healthcare options available to Nigerian women.
He further stated that: “According to the data available from UNICEF, deaths of newborn babies in Nigeria represents a quarter of the total number of deaths of children under-five.” In this regard, as the event hosted by the National Association of Nigerian Nurses hand Midwives (NANNM), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Well-being Foundation Africa came to a close, Saraki stated that the Senate and the 8th National Assembly would sort out means to partner with organisations in order to help promote the life-saving work of midwives across the nation. “As the International Day of the Midwife 2016 was celebrated,” Saraki said, “The 8th Assembly will partner with organisations and other stakeholders to provide legislation that will help to strengthen the efforts of midwives in Nigeria, to enable them provide better support for expecting mothers.” According to UNICEF, a Nigerian woman’s chances of dying from pregnancy and childbirth is 1 in 13, and presently, only about 20 per cent of health facilities offer emergency obstetric care and only 35 per cent of deliveries are attended by skilled birth attendants.