Child, maternal deaths caused by poverty, poor access to health services – Ekiti residents

Poverty and lack of free health services have been identified as some of the major factors responsible for pregnant women giving birth at home.

Some Residents of Ekiti State made the claims in Ado Ekiti while speaking with Group One members of the Rotary-RMCH workshop.

One of them, Mrs Nike Fasuba explained that if the government at all levels makes antenatal and child delivery services free, pregnant women would visit hospitals for necessary treatments.

He said many families find it difficult to meet hospital bills, hence the option of seeking alternative means of child delivery such as visiting traditional birth attendants.

Also, Mr Fatai Adeboye noted that no pregnant woman would enjoy giving birth at home in view of its danger but many of them lacked the financial capacity to pay hospital bills before and after delivery.

Another concerned citizen, Mr Olaoluwa Adebiyi urged the government to prioritize medical health services for the less privileged in the society, saying such would reduce the increasing rate of child and maternal deaths.

Meanwhile, a health expert with Ekiti State Ministry of Health, Mrs Olayemi Ojo confirmed that there were free health services for pregnant women and children between ages 0 to 5 across the sixteen Local Governments of the state.

Mrs Ojo urged media professionals to use their platforms to sensitize members of the public on the need to key into the free medical health services to reduce child and maternal mortality.