Health Service and Barriers to antenatal care use in Nigeria: Could more be done?

Health care system in Nigeria continues to struggle towards achieving a reputable standard of care; thus personalised care services is still far fetched. The situation leaves early mortality in Nigeria about second highest in the world; as UNICEF stated in a publication; stating that "everyday, Nigeria loses about 2,300 under-five years old and 145 women of childbearing age..." The hopes of changes to be implemented and be achievable by 2015 still seems unreachable at present.

It has been noted that the high death rate of children under the age of 5, is mostly due to preventable and curable infectious diseases such as Pneumonia, Diarrhea, Malaria, STD and HIV/AIDS. This according to research was 70 per cent of 1 million death in the country. Additionally, the poor rate of healthcare workers adds to the struggle to reach families and children on time.

However, looking from the conception stage, a woman chances of dying during child birth in Nigeria is 1 in 13. Although this can be prevented, pregnant women are not properly supported medically and emotionally. A holistic care package for a pregnant woman should be available to every pregnant woman; registered with general hospital of private hospital. Good advice network within the antenatal team, nutritionist, sufficient leaflets and awareness of what to expect and available emergency services should be made available as a basic necessity for a pregnant woman and from all health services. 

My point still remains: Why should a pregnant woman be left standing in a queue for almost 12 hours of the day because they have chosen to be seen in the General Hospital? Please, ministers should intervene. What do you think?

It is worse in villages where financial abilities is less. Of course, poverty affects the quality of life; unemployment, education and civilisation are major factors as have been clearly proven from researches and life experiences. For instance, the North-East and North-West geopolitical zones of Nigeria have the worst child survival rates due to poor healthcare services and early child birth ages.

I believe that improving the healthcare services for child birth should be given more attention to.









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Although NGO's such as The White Ribbon Alliance are trying to reduce the death rate by providing reachable services around the country, more needs to be done. More support from world bank, foreign Pharmaceuticals companies to support the campaign and awareness of use of multi vitamins before, during pregnancy and breastfeeding. 

'The woman is the world'; let us join forces to support a healthier growth for mum and baby in Nigeria.