Lagos, Nigeria – By Oladipo Airenakho.
Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Nigeria (SOGON) has expressed worry about the absence of legal instrument and accurate data for a proper feasibility study for Maternal Death Review (MDR).
The association said during a recent three-day training workshop organized by the Women’s Health and Action Research Centre (WHARC) in Lagos that the absence of legal instrument was hindering prosecution of cases of questionable maternal deaths in Africa’s most populous nation.
Dr. Chris Agboghoroma, the General Secretary of SOGON, noted on behalf of his organization that government needed to review the present policy that prevents exposing the name of any erring medical personnel for prosecution in cases of maternal deaths.
The training centered on the overview and critical analysis on Maternal Death Review Committee, Maternal Death Review, Data Flow, Maternal Death Review Analysis, Monitoring and Supervision of Maternal Death Review Facilitators and the Guidelines on Implementing Maternal Death Review in Lagos State.
Also in his speech, Deputy Executive Director of Women’s Health and Action Research Centre who is also an expert in Maternal and Child Health Care, Dr. Wilson Imongan listed some of the objectives of the training.
They included building capacity of medical professionals on maternal death review towards developing programs for reducing maternal mortality in Nigeria with reference to Lagos State “if we must achieve MDGs 5 by 2015.”
He also said it would help in the building of the capacity of non-Maternal Death Review Committee members on conducting Maternal Death Review.
WHARC Project Officer for Macarthur projects, Miss Chioma Ekwo said that the three Macarthur project facilities related to maternal mortality rate included Ajeromi General Hospital, Lagos Island Maternity and Gbagada General Hospital in Lagos State.
The Medical Director of Lagos Island Maternity Hospital and member of the Lagos State Maternal Death Review Steering Committee, Dr. Donald Imosemi commended Management of WHARC for organizing the training program.
Imosemi, a facilitator at the workshop said experience gathered by participants on Maternal Death Review would equip them in their planned reduction of Maternal Death as Nigeria ranked second highest after Asia.
Dr Orebanjo, the Medical Director of the Ajeromi General Hospital appreciated the organizers and facilitators whose lectures he said had broadened and increased their knowledge on Maternal Death Review.
He urged health care providers to be committed in their various primary assignments geared towards reducing Maternal Deaths in their various health care facilities.
The training was attended by members of the Maternal Death Review Committee and other health care providers.
