85 per cent of pregnant women in North West give birth at home, says SOGON

• Group Kicks Against Medicalisation Of Genital Mutilation
The Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria (SOGON), has expressed worry that about 85 per cent of pregnant women in the North West zone of the country give birth at home, rather than in health facilities.

SOGON, in a communique issued at the end of its national council meeting in Kano, urged government and traditional institutions to take drastic steps to improve access to maternal healthcare.

The association’s President, Prof. Brian-D Adinma and its Secretary, Dr. Chris Agboghoroma, signed the communique.

They stressed the need for the Federal Ministry of Health to fast-track the implementation of the Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response scheme (MPRSR), which is an initiative of SOGON.

The association also condemned the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM), as well as, the medicalisation of the practice, calling on government to stop such practices at all levels.

Urging government to scale-up implementation of the Volunteer Obstetrician Scheme (VOS), the association said such measures were long overdue because it would address the human resource shortages in rural and undeserved parts of the country.