LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT REFUNDS 145 FORMER SUBSCRIBERS OF EGAN HOUSING ESTATE
admin The Gates Foundation and its partners will be providing 3 million Nigerian women with prenatal vitamins as part of efforts to stem maternal deaths.
Bill Gates however said governments at all levels must commit to sponsoring and supporting these effective solutions so every woman who needs it can access it.
He noted: “Healthy children need healthy mothers. But, unfortunately now, Nigeria is the most dangerous place in the world to give birth. But, here too, there are important, affordable interventions. Nigerian scientists are exploring how a single antibiotic during pregnancy can dramatically reduce maternal and newborn infection. They’re also conducting leading research on Postpartum Hemorrhage—or massive blood loss after birth—which kills more mothers than anything else. And like many problems affecting women, it doesn’t get nearly enough attention.
“There’s a simple, affordable solution: a device called a drape—essentially a sheet of plastic that collects and measures blood loss. This lets doctors know there’s a problem, so they can quickly provide a high-quality treatment bundle. It sounds simple, but this approach led to a 60 per cent reduction in severe bleeding.
“Another example is a multiple micronutrient supplement (MMS), which is probably the most advanced prenatal vitamin in the world. If even just two in five Nigerian women had access to MMS, it could prevent 2 million cases of anemia, and save the lives of 70,000 babies.
“The Gates Foundation is working with partners to provide 3 million Nigerian women with prenatal vitamins this year. But, in the long term, it will be up to governors to ensure these kinds of solutions are available to every woman who needs them.
“That means factoring them into every state budget, and ensuring the funds are released. And because lifesaving medical treatments don’t administer themselves, it also means hiring more midwives and community health workers to deliver them.
“I also want to make sure you all know about the Child Nutrition Fund at UNICEF. The fund is matching government spending on things like prenatal vitamins and therapeutic foods, which means you can double the impact of your nutrition investments. I understand that several Nigerian state governments are working on those deals right now, and I hope every state does the same.”
