Bauchi recorded 97 maternal deaths in three months

The Bauchi State Ministry of Health says it is worried about a recent statistics released by the Maternal and Peri-natal and Technical Working Group in the first three months of its operation
in the state between August and October 2015 which indicated that there were 97 maternal mortality deaths in the state.

Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Saidu Gital, stated this on Thursday while inaugurating the new Maternal and Peri-natal Death Surveillance Response and Technical Working Group Committee at the Bauchi Specialist Hospital. He said the figure showed that the highest cases were recorded in General Hospitals of Azare, Misau and Toro local government areas of the state.

According to Gital, the deaths are only that of secondary health facilities in the state, noting that “there is no reason why a woman should die while giving birth in the state.”

The permanent secretary said, “Our budget captured life-saving drugs for pregnant women and the five-point health agenda of the state governor including the under five free treatment.

“Once the budget is passed, maternal and peri-natal death will certainly be tackled or reduced to the barest minimum.

Speaking earlier, the National Adviser of Evidence for Action, Oko Igado, explained that the aim of the meeting is to review and suggest ways for improving the running of the MPDSR process in health facilities.

“The state government and health staff are to use evidence from MPDSR to improve quality of care in the state,” he said.

The committee, which comprises 26 members, was drawn from different departments and agencies of the health sector with Dr. Bako Mohammed as chairman while Dr. Mohammed Daminah is to serve as the secretary.