Nigeria still ranks high the list of countries with high maternal rates with a ratio of 630 per 100,000 live births.

State governments all over the country, recognise this fact and so some of them have been making improvements in the health facilities and standard of care available to expecting mothers.

Lagos State government has made a significant effort to reduce maternal mortality rates. And as such there has been a decrease in the number of women dying during childbirth in the state.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris recently stated that the state recorded 714 maternal deaths in three years.

According to him, 318 women died during childbirth in the state’s public hospitals in 2010, while 201 died in 2011 and 195 in 2012.

While the statistics for 2013 is still being collated, Dr. Idris believes that there has been decline in maternal mortality rate in the state in the past three years.

He has attributed this reduction to health centres in Lagos state adopting best practice.

“We have reviewed its progress so far. We will not change its strategies. Our strategies are really yielding good results. So, there is no need to change them.”

 

“We are addressing the three delays leading to mortality rate. One of such is seeking assistance due to lack of information or poverty. There is also delay in having access to these services and delay in getting the right services.”

 

“We are addressing these through advocacy and public enlightenment. We have gone to the three senatorial districts to sensitise the people to make use of the Primary Healthcare Centres, PHCs. We have gone to Oshodi, Amuwo Odofin, Ibeju Lekki and Surulere to hold stakeholders’ meetings,” he said.

(RELATED: “It is not right for any woman or her child to die during delivery” – Governor Uduaghan)

While this may be seen as progress, some critics have however said that this figure is still alarming.

One Mr. Akinbode Oluwafemi told the media that,

“If Lagos State regarded as urban city can have this kind of record, then there is a big problem in the country. We must rise to rescue the situation. Everyone should be worried that in two years 714 lives were lost in government hospital alone. This is not a record to downplay at all, it is something that should bother us.”