‘Tackling postpartum hemorrhage can help reduce maternal mortality’
MSD for Mothers in Nigeria has urged stakeholders in maternal healthcare to pay better attention to postpartum hemorrhage, noting that addressing this childbirth complication is crucial to reducing the high rate of maternal mortality.
A representative of the Country Director, MSD for Mothers, Nigeria, Susan Bello, made the call during the launch of a heat-table uterotonic for the treatment of postpartum hemorrhage in Nigeria and other sub-Saharan African countries by the SmilesForMothers team.
According to her, about 800 mothers die daily after giving birth as a result of postpartum hemorrhage complications and other preventable causes in Nigeria, adding that approximately 385,000 babies are born daily in Nigeria.
“Every single day there are about 385,000 babies born, more than 800 of the women who give birth to these children die.
“Each one of these deaths is one too many and they die from preventable causes.
“At MSD for Mothers, we are excited about this progress today. We will remain committed to stopping maternal deaths, by strengthening the country’s ability to respond to postpartum hemorrhage, adding that heat-stable uterotonic is a good alternative to stop women from dying while giving life.”
Also speaking at the event, the director of the SmilesForMothers Programme, Dr. Uche Igbokwe, said that the heat-table uterotonic can only save women.
He said, “Today, we celebrate an opportunity to improve maternal mortality in Nigeria. The human, economic and cultural implications of a woman dying during giving birth are too great to bear.
“Our intervention can only save a little over 900 women, with that in mind we are not the only solution.
“We need everyone on board to ensure that the lives of women giving birth in Nigeria are saved.
“I ask that the Nigeria Governors’ Forum Secretariat prioritises the funding sources for maternal health and keep supporting efforts that are geared towards ending maternal mortality. I am hopeful for a Nigeria where no woman dies while giving life.”
Also speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer, International Society of Media in Public Health, Moji Makanjuola, said, “Nigeria is the fourth largest country in the world with the highest maternal mortality.”
The First Lady of Niger State, and founder of Raise Foundation, Dr. Amina Bello, added that the launch of the device will help women across the region.
She said, “Postpartum hemorrhage has to be close to your heart because it is the cause of the most needless deaths. I am excited to be part of this innovation that is a solution to many of the causes of continued PPH across the country.
“With the launch of the heat-stable uterotonics, we hope that the lives of women would improve, not just in Niger state but in sub-Saharan Africa at large.”
The organisers of the event added that April 7 was World Health Day.
Recently, the World Health Organisation updated its recommendation for uterotonics in the prevention of postpartum hemorrhage to include seven uterotonics, which itemised new options, notably, carbetocin (heat-stable formulation) and misoprostol plus oxytocin combination.
A uterotonic, also known as ecobolic, are pharmacological agent used to induce contraction or greater tonicity of the uterus. They are used both to induce labor and to reduce postpartum hemorrhage.
