Over 60,000 Nigerian women die annually of complications in pregnancy – NPHDA on MARCH 9, 2013 ·

Over 60,000 Nigerian women die annually of complications in pregnancy – NPHDA

on MARCH 9, 2013 · 

No fewer than 60,000 Nigerian women die annually as a result of complications in pregnancy and dearth of qualified healthcare givers to cater for pregnant women in the country.

This was disclosed recently in Makurdi by the Director General of National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Ado Mohammed, while flagging off the  scholarship scheme instituted by CapacityPlus Nigeria for 874 student Nurses, Midwifery and Community Health Extension Workers drawn from health institutions across the country.

Mohammed said, “with close to 60,000 pregnant women dying annually as a result of lack of well trained personnel and complications in pregnancy, it is indeed a welcome relief to see this initiative by CapacityPlus become a reality in Nigeria.”

Represented by a Director in the Agency,  Dr. Eric Nwanze, the Director General added that initiative would go a long way in addressing the dearth of professionals in the health sector especially in the training of nurses and midwives.”

Presenting the cheques to benefiting students, Country Representative of CapacityPlus, a USAID funded Organisation, Samuel Ngobua said the “idea was targeted at addressing the worldwide shortage of workers in the health sector  which has been put at 4.5 million by  the World Health Organization findings.

According to him, “the scholarship and bursary award which ranges between N75,000 and N25,000 for each deserving students is also meant to economically improve their pass rate in their professional examinations.

”Its also meant to provide intuitional support for provision of textbooks, learning aids, and equipment for demonstration among others.”

Samuel added that the 23 states, including FCT, under the Benue state zone, would through the scheme increase the availability of its health workers to meet the priority health needs of their populations through sustainable and scalable human resources for health interventions outlined by CapacityPlus vision.