How to Reduce Maternal Death Rate during Child Birth in Nigeria

The maternal mortality ratio (MMR) is defined as The annual number of female deaths from any cause related to or aggravated by pregnancy or its management (excluding accidental or incidental causes) during pregnancy and childbirth or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy, expressed per 100,000 live births, for a specified time period. The leading causes of direct maternal mortality in Nigeria are:

1. Obstetric hemorrhage (18.7%),

2. Eclampsia

3. Sepsis (20.6%)

4. Complications from unsafe abortions

5. Anaemia in pregnancy (3.2%),

6. Hypertension (27.0%),

7. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (3.2%)

8. Sickle Cell Disease (2.4%)

 The current rate of maternal mortality rate in Nigeria from 2000  2019 is 917.00 per 100,000 live births expressed in annual percentage of 0.86%. 

What can be done to reduce maternal mortality in Nigeria?

Strategies that could prevent 4 out of 5 maternal deaths included an integrated and stepwise approach that includes 

1. Increased Skilled Deliveries

The skilled attendant is an accredited health professional who possesses the knowledge and a defined set of cognitive and practical skills that enable the individual to provide safe and effective health care during childbirth to women and their infants in the home, health center, and hospital settings. Skilled attendants include midwives, doctors, and nurses with midwifery and life-saving skills. This definition excludes traditional birth attendants whether trained or not.

 

2. Facility Births

Maternal and prenatal mortality are still unacceptably high in many countries especially in Nigeria, despite steep increases in facility birth. The evidence that childbirth in facilities reduces mortality is weak, mainly because of the scarcity of robust study designs and data. 

 

3.  Access to Antenatal/Postpartum Care

Access to antenatal care (ANC) and postnatal care (PNC) services has a great deal of impacts on major causes of infant death and significantly affects trends of mortality in a population. Antenatal care may play an indirect role in reducing maternal mortality by encouraging women to deliver with assistance of a skilled birth attendant or in a health facility. 

 

4. Improved Recognition of Referral  Need

Referrals are the second easiest way to increase patient volumes, next to making sure that you retain existing patients. People are more likely to trust their primary care physician's opinion over a Google search, after all.

5.  Transport

Emergency transport alone had been demonstrated to reduce maternal mortality by as much as 50 per cent. 

6. Availability Quality of EMOC In Addition To Family Planning and Safe Abortion

Access to quality emergency obstetrics care (EMOC) is fundamental to reducing maternal and newborn deaths and is a possible way of achieving the target of the fifth millennium development goal.

In Conclusion, early intensive efforts to improve family planning and control of fertility choices, accompanied by a stepwise effort to scale-up capacity for integrated maternal health services over several years, will save lives and provide equal or greater value than many public health interventions we consider among the most cost-effective (e.g., childhood immunization).

Exposure to Pesticides causes low sperm count – Health Expert

 

Prof. Suleiman Ambali of the Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Ilorin, has warned that continuous exposure of humans to pesticides causes a decline in male sperm count.

Ambali disclosed this in his paper presentation at the 192nd Inaugural Lecture of the University, entitled: "Preventing pesticides from poisoning away our health and future – the oxidative approach".

The don, who lectures in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the university, warned that there was evidence that human species was approaching a fertility crisis based on trends in male reproductive health.

He said based on the troubling data from laboratory, clinical epidemiology studies, it was obvious that the world would witness fertility crisis.

To corroborate his reports, he explained that some Danish scientists' research had also indicated that sperm counts of men have declined by about 50 per cent since 1940 worldwide.

"The researchers analysed the result of sperm counts between 1938 and 1991. Since then several other studies have confirmed the decline.

"Environmental causes including pesticides especially those that cause endocrine changes in fetal and pre-puberty life prior to birth or during childhood or during breastfeeding are involved in the decline of semen quality," he said.

According to him, the effect of chemical pesticides on 'birth sex' is in favour of more females than males.

He explained that this trend was worrisome as human activities continue to change the natural demography in favour of women, as a lesser number of male births occur.

Ambali said that the use of pesticides by people had led to a reduction in the quantity and quality of food available.

The expert in Toxicology who quoted WHO said about three million workers in agriculture in the developing world experience pesticide poisoning annually with about 18,000 deaths.

He also disclosed that there were estimated 250,000 deaths annually from pesticide self-poisoning worldwide, accounting for about 30 per cent of the suicide rates globally.

Crime Meets Criminality: Human Nature or Inhumanity?

Be a good human being, a warm hearted, affectionate person. That is my  fundamental belief- DALAI LAMA


Sometimes, I think that humans, are birthed with the tendency to commit crimes and engage in forms of criminalities. Most times, I end up brushing off the thought because I have met people who are true definitions of humanity. Judging by recent happenings, I concluded that we have more percentage who are inherently wicked and evil. This claim is not far-fetched as it is evidently seen in the story of Abel and Cain.

It saddens my heart and brings tears to my optics when I see the high rate of crimes in this century. Once in a while, I wish to take an investigative journey to the past centuries to understudy if crimes were these high then. Rapes, murders, racism among other crimes are being reported almost everyday. All these social vices want me to question where humans humanity and tolerance have gone to?

The past days have been virtually eventful, but sadly, for negative reasons. In these past days, we have heard and read of killings, rape and murder. But the cases that stood out were that of a teenager who was 'mistakenly' murdered in cold blood, a lady who was brutalised a a result of rape and a black man who suffered the consequence of being black.
READ: Coronavirus: Career Tamed, Professionalism Tampered
Police brutality is something not new to Nigerians. The numbers of those killed in the first two weeks of the lock down were more than the total that were  killed by the Coronavirus. Police's insatiability for corruption can not be imagined. They can do anything when their illegal requests are  not attended to by drivers. But what I could not come to terms with is why would a supposedly law enforcement agent fired a gun carelessly: something that should not be done by civilians like me. Many results of the police brutality and rash decisions have been reported in recent times. The most recent of such brutality and senseless shooting was that of Tina Ezekwe. Tina who was a teenager was hit by a police officer's misfire shot at Iyana Oworo area of Lagos state. I will like to see it as a murder case  rather than a case of manslaughter. Tina at the time of her death was aged 16 and due to sit for her WAEC examination this year. Yes, I called it a case of murder because nothing gave the police officer the reason and audacity to rashly and unreasonably fire. I would not want to start imagining the state the girl's parent would be at this time. We keep hearing young minds are the leaders of tomorrow, but it seems to me  that everything is being coordinately put in place that the paradigm never comes to fruition. An example should be made out of the police officer in question so as to serve as a deterrent to other trigger- happy police officers.



Rape cases have been prevalent, not only in Nigeria, but also all over the world in recent times. Those who religiously follow international updates would give an acceptable nod to this claim. Hardly would a day pass without at least a reported case of rape. Nigeria stands among countries recording cases of rape in recent times. In a report, it was said at least a girl child is raped everyday in Nigeria. But the rape case of Uwa serve as one of the backdrop for writing this piece. I find it unbelievable that the victim was raped and brutalised inside a church! The late Uwavera Omozuwa was a 200-level Uniben student who had decided to take the church a reading centre as a result of this covid-19 pandemic when all institutions are under lock and key. As her usual habit, the late Uwa on Saturday, May 30 decided to visit her reading base which was a redeemed church for another reading session before she was pounced on by vagina-hungry predators. She was badly raped and brutalised. I will rather not focus on the fact that the criminal, disgusting and ungodly act was carried out inside a church as the perpetrators may be infidels or atheists, not that I have problems with them being infidels or atheists as everyone is entitled to his/her beliefs. But I will rather focus on the inhumanity displayed by these individuals. Another rape case involving 14 men raping a young girl was reported in Jigawa this morning. There is nothing we can call that  than it is an act of wickedness. I hold the opinion that more stringent laws should be passed on any cases involving rape. Many women are raped and they have to live with the stain and stigma for the rest of their lives. Some are not strong enough, they would rather take solace in murder. There should be no place in the world where women will feel insecure as right to life  and property is one of the fundamental human rights. As a result of consiszent reports of rape cases, many women would leave their homes in fear of being way laid or raped. In this Uwa's case, humanity has definitely gone on an expedition of no return.

Uwa
The Late Uwa
                      

Humanity decided earlier this week to take another break when an innocent man suffered the consequence of being born black. The current event has generated reactions all over the world. Since the occurrence of the incident, nationwide protests have been going on in the United States of America. George Floyd suffered a tragedy of police brutality in Minneapolis, Minnesota in America not because he was asked for bribe or refusing police arrest or shot at a police officer, but because he was black. His death was just that of circumstances birthed by the world we live in. Racism has been around for as long as I could remember and many have kissed the mother earth as victims of racism. A sneak peek to books like Native sons, Sizwe Bansi is dead, Second class citizen and a host of other  negro oriented work of arts: prose, poetry and drama will sharpen one's mind and take one on a long memory lane. Africa was blindly looted by whites for more than a hundred years. Even after independence, we are still enslaved by their Ideas. Years after breaking the shackles of imperialism and colonialism, Africans still struggle for acceptability. The White see black as nobody, especially, in the White man's land. It is the highest degree of inhumanity to kneel on someone's neck and others present would just derive pleasure in the whole scenario by laughing away. Even after pleading for his dear life, they didn't bulge. George Floyd's offence was that he was black. I find it nauseating that people judge by  colours. Nobody holds any decision on the colour he would be birthed. I was born black not because I had a choice, but because I was lucky to be born black. You were born White not because you had a choice, but because you were lucky to be born White. I think the United Nations Organisation should try everything possible to put an end to any forms of racism around the world. As a result of racism, Africans live in fear of being abused, maligned and marginalised because of the colour of the skins. The protests in America that have sent the United States' president to the white house bunker should send a strong message to other countries what racism can cause and that being black is not an aberration.

The Late George Floyd
                 
READ: 'I Can't Breathe'' - The Murder of George Floyd
An anonymous author said, "Humanity should be our race. Love should be our religion." I hold the opinion that humanity should come first before anything. We are set of religious people, but lacking in the area of humanity. This world would be a better place to live on if we are able to balance religion and humanity.

Agriculture: Why We Need to Return to Native Methods

As with many other areas of life and even in our individuals personal life, the goal of is always to look for ways that will make our task easier to achieve in lesser time and with a much greater productivity.

This also applies to Agriculture as well. Over the years, agriculture has experienced a great shift in its means of cultivation to more productive ways. This has caused a shift from the use of crude implements to cultivate land to more mechanised systems of farming.

There has been use of scientific method in dealing with crop and animal production rather than the old cultural method which has resulted into a lot of great productivity in the Agricultural sector.
Valuable time as been saved, large area of land are as well been cultivated, pest and disease control has been possible through the use of chemical control and most importantly, farmers has experience increase in the quantity of farm produce yearly.

READ: Dellasdiary Launches Maendeleo Africa, Aims to Impact African Youths

Having said all this, why will anyone consider going to back to the crude old method of farming? Where there is much labour and little productivity. Stay with me as I give you two crucial point why agriculturist may want to go back to native method of farming.

The first point of I will mention here is the adverse effects of chemicals and fertilizers used on farmland, how they affect us( starting from the farmer to the consumer) and the environment at large.
Due to the toxic nature of most chemicals use on farm wether they are pesticides, herbicides, insecticides etc, many farmers have suffer partial and permanent damage to their health condition such as burns, loss of memory and damage to eye sight etc. The oversensitive nature of this chemicals has make it difficult for farmers who are not educated to handle them probably which has   resulted into adverse health condition in their Lives.

Most chemicals are very powerful and they are not easily degradable when they are applied to crops and the soil, example of such is organo-chlorine chemicals. The residue of this chemicals on crops makes it dangerous for human health when consume. Since this chemicals last long in the soil,it destroy soil micro organism which are very useful to the soil.  it also destroy aquatic  life when it is washed down by rain into water bodies.

Agriculture may return to native method of farming for this second reason; the lack of technical know-how in operating farm machinery. Most farm machinery are too difficult for the average Joe to operate and even the educated ones . This  special machines are operated by few specialist. Furthermore, heavy farm equipment destroy farm land through their activities by compressing the soil which result into destruction of soil structure, thus  prevent water from penetrating the soil adequately.

For the foreseeable future, Agriculture will continue to move towards advanced mechanization. However, If there will be  a time when an individual will choose to abandon technological and scientific method in solving Agricultural problem, then the above points will justify His decision.

Twin Sisters Impregnated by Same Man in Akwa Ibom Dedicate Children

Twin sisters who were impregnated by the same man in Akwa Ibom have dedicated their children in church. According to a Facebook user, FearGod Akpakpan, who posted the story in a Facebook group (Sitippe Akwa Ibom), he said the dedication took place on Sunday, June 25, at Christian evangelistic church Ikpe Akpa Ewe, Oruk Anam LGA in Akwa Ibom State.

Read also: Biography of Actress Kehinde Bankole

 

The post, however, has caused an outrage as members of the group are accusing the church of promoting polygamy while others celebrating the man and his family. See more photos and reaction from people after the cut..

The Law of Value - For or Against The Naira?

When you meet some handicapped begging, you would be quick to contain the realities of his physical state and give him whatever your good mind can. On the other hand, when you see a full grown, body abled man, begging for money, what happens? 

 

I dipped my hands into my wallet and got the worst, tattered Naira notes and gave it out to them. You know what? They accepted it with great ecstascy. Right there, they taught me value!

 

Water is free (except you choose to buy packed water) and can be gotten almost everywhere but Coca Cola is expensive. At the same time, Air is free but Air Conditioner is expensive. A heart is free but a kidney transplant is costly, and so I have noticed that the most precious things in life are either free or cheap. The Salvation of Jesus is free but to get a herbalist to work for you isn't free. Tim Berners-Lee invented the world wide web (www) and made it free for everyone but Bill Gate's windows softwares aren't free. Android OS is free for all but Apple OS isn't. Newspapers aren't free but reading news online is free. These are just few...
The Law of Value says that "If you want to create an awesome value born out of a great vision, CONSIDER the PRICE, make it cheap so that even a fool can afford it and gain wisdom."

Anything that is much more smaller has value; whatsoever we feel has no value, has much more value than we can ever imagine

Making Black Lives Truly Matter

           

We are blacks but our skins are not weapons
We do not deserve to be killed 

And we deserve the freedom of expression. 

Our rights should not be violated because we are black

We deserve the freedom to speak up

When our rights are violated.


The discrimination against black has been existing for years, and this has led to crises and chaos in many nations. The black skin has been bleached with several injustices owing to the fact that it is simply black. Racism is not meant to be the order of the day especially in this century. Our skin is black but our brain is not. We are human and we deserve justice like every other human.

Being black is not meant to be a crime because that's our race and we are meant to be able to stand in public and defend it but due to racism, black people are scared to go out and be proud of being black. We do not deserve to be bullied or be shy of being black.

We are black!

We were born black 

And our lives are important. 

That's our race, our identity.