BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
Nigerian women have been urged to take antenatal care seriously during pregnancy in order to prevent neonatal mortality in the country.
This advice came after a pregnant woman identified as Mariam Salami gave birth to triplets in Osun State without any antenatal care.
It was also gathered that Mrs Salami was not aware that she was carrying triplet babies until the day of her delivery when she was rushed to a local maternity centre at her community, Ifon-Osun, headquarters of Orolu Local Government Area of Osun State.
At the maternity centre, it was learnt that there was no qualified doctor and that two of the three babies had already died before the woman was hurriedly refered to the Osun State University Teaching Hospital in Osogbo.
Immediately, a team of doctors attended to the pregnant woman and brought out the remaining child alive.
The latest United Nations Children’s Fund report discloses that the current infant mortality rate for Nigeria in 2023 is 54.740 deaths per 1,000 live births, a 2.63 per cent decline from 2022. The report further states that the infant mortality rate for Nigeria in 2022 was 56.220 deaths per 1,000 live births, a 2.57 per cent decline from 2021.
UNICEF in its 2022 report titled: “Situation of Women and Children in Nigeria” had noted that the country recorded 576 maternal mortality per 100,000 live births, while approximately 262,000 babies die at birth every year.
Also, it said infant mortality stood at 69 per 1,000 live births, while under-five deaths was 128 per 1,000 live births with more than 64 per cent of the deaths caused by pneumonia, malaria and diarrhoea.
Meanwhile, when one of the wives of the Osun State Governor, Ngozi Adeleke visited Salami at the teaching hospital, she offered her money and seized the occasion to call on women to prioritise regular antenatal care and undergo necessary X-rays during pregnancy.
Mrs Adeleke said, “I visited Osun State Teaching Hospital to check up on Mrs. Mariam Salami from Ifon Osun, who recently gave birth to triplets. Unfortunately, two of the newborn babies passed away due to an infection.
“During her entire nine-month pregnancy, Mrs. Mariam Salami was unaware that she was carrying triplets. It was only at the time of delivery, when she was taken to a local maternity center, that it was discovered she was carrying three babies.
“She was subsequently transferred to Osun State Teaching Hospital, where a skilled team of medical professionals worked diligently to save the life of the remaining baby.
“As is customary, I have taken care of the hospital bill and other necessary expenses. I would like to urge all pregnant women in the state and the entire nation to prioritise regular antenatal care and undergo necessary X-rays during pregnancy. I commend the exceptional team of medical experts at Osun State Teaching Hospital for their commendable efforts in saving the life of the third baby.”
