United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) says in Lagos that only 36 percent of women, which form more than half of the Nigerian 170 million population, have access to giving birth in the hospital where facilities exist.
Eugene Kongnyuy, deputy representative of UNFPA, who revealed this also said more than 55 percent of pregnant women in the country still give birth without the assistance of skilled health worker.
“More than 55 percent of pregnant women still gave birth without any assistance from a skilled health worker,” Kongnyuy said, saying only 12 percent of pregnant women who needed emergency obstetric care services received them.
“This means lots of women and adolescent girls are still at risk of dying from pregnancy-related conditions. Some progress has been made, but a lot still needs to be done.
“There is need to raise awareness on these development issues, engage communities and advocate for women and girls at the policy and decision making levels,” he said.
Stephanie Linus, the new UNFPA regional goodwill ambassador for West and Central Africa, said access to reproductive healthcare for women and girls, especially family planning, should be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for.
“Fought for not just because of equality but because we are tired of women dying while giving birth,” Linus said.
Babatunde Osotimehin, executive director of UNFPA, said, “Sadly, despite some progress, the world still has a long way to go to achieve full gender equality.
“Every year tens of thousands of girls are forced into child marriage, nearly one third of these before the age of 15, or one woman in three experience gender based violence in her lifetime.”
“Some 200 million women and girls have endured female genital mutilation. Women are entitled to live in dignity and in freedom, gender equality is also vital to sustainable development, peace and security.”
UNFPA is fully committed to ensure the rights of women and girls to sexual and reproductive health service, including family planning.
Omolaso Omotosehin, a reproductive health specialist with UNFPA, said, “Today, International Women’s Day is a platform to raise awareness on the issues that affect women and girls.
“They are significant partners in reaching many of the people that can foster change. In the real sense, we are all ambassadors, because we stimulate sensitive conversations and ask pertinent questions that serve as the bedrock for the change we want.”
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