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Reducing Maternal Mortality

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Gynaecologists and other stakeholders are worried about the high maternal mortality rate associated with unsafe abortions.

They say that if people embrace the use of contraceptives and other modern family planning methods, the rate will decrease.

Instances abound of couples that continue to have children against their wishes, just because they do not know how to apply any of the modern family planning methods which have proved to be efficacious with correct and consistent use, over time.

A study commissioned by Society of Gynaecologists and Obstetrics of Nigeria and Federal Ministry of Health shows that 20,000 women die from unsafe abortions in Nigeria annually.

The World Health Organisation defines unsafe abortion as a “procedure for terminating an unintended pregnancy either by individuals without the necessary skills or in an environment that does not conform to minimum medical standards.’’

The world body also notes that “an estimated 200 million couples in developing countries would like to delay or stop childbearing, but are not using any method of contraception. ’’

Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, Executive Secretary, FCT Primary Health Care Development Board (PHCDB), notes that it is globally acknowledged that family planning contributes to reducing maternal mortality.

He says that increase in contraceptive use will improve the health status of women by giving them the chance to plan when they want to get pregnant.

“Family planning reduces the need for unsafe abortion, family planning reinforces people’s rights to determine the number and spacing of their children, it is achieved through use of contraceptive methods and the treatment of infertility

“Family planning delays underage pregnancies, decreases the risk of health problems and death from early childbearing, and reduces maternal mortality. ’’

Also voicing his concern, the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, says family planning practice is a veritable strategy of curtailing maternal and child mortality in the country.

Dr Ukaire Binyerm, a gynaecologist, says it is wise for women to adhere to child spacing to avoid being anaemic.

“Child spacing is very good, we advise that at least a two-year gap is good, because the woman’s body needs time to recover.

“This is a woman who has gone through the stress of pregnancy, lost some blood, has been breast feeding, stressed at home, and some even start going to work. It takes a lot both physically, emotionally and otherwise.

“We find out that in Nigeria, most women don’t space their children enough and they would not have rebuilt their iron deficiency, so many of them become anaemic, ’’ resulting in reduced immune system which exposes many of them to infections.

“The blood level is already low and that is not favourable at all for a pregnant woman, because anaemia in pregnancy has its own complications, including abortion and several other things. ’’

Binyerm stresses that family planning is vital for every family, as it reduces maternal mortality.

Mrs Fatimah Bamidele, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health says that not all the six million babies delivered annually are intentional, adding that if women have access to contraceptives, unplanned pregnancies which result to life-threatening abortions will reduce drastically.

However, the 2008 National Demographic Health Survey puts the utilisation of family planning in terms of contraceptive prevalence at 10 per cent, while unmet need is 20 per cent.

To beef up access to contraceptives, the Federal Ministry of Health has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), to obtain $3 million worth of contraceptives.

Although the UNFPA Resident Representative, Dr Agather Lawson lauds the effort, she says such should be sustained through regular budget provisions.

This is because Nigeria’s population, at about 170 million, is the sixth most populous country in the world and with a fast growth rate.

“The implications of the present rate of growth are frightening and necessary measures should be put in place, as demand for public services doubles every 20 years to 23 years. ’’

She adds that the Department For International Development (DFID) has provided a grant of 18 million pounds sterling to Nigeria to purchase contraceptives for six years, while the Canadian International Development Agency has also provided $5 million dedicated to the purchase of contraceptive for five years.

While government and international agencies have shown commitment in concrete terms to the reproductive health of the citizens, couples, especially husbands, should encourage family planning practices, according to Dr Braimah Gyang, another gynaecologist.

He says that religion or tradition should not stand in the way of family planning practices, since there are also natural methods.

“What is paramount is for every family to have the number of children it can cater for, to secure the health of mother and child and in the interest of the nation,” he adds.

Angbazo writes for News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

 

Anna Angbazo

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Women

The Wise Woman

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The wise woman builds her home. Mothers are supposed to live exemplary lives. The roles of mothers in the building of the modern Christian home cannot be overemphasized.
The function of the mother is to help the man build the home. She is a helper. A helper to the husband when the man is not doing well. It is important for the wise woman to assist when the man is not able to meet up with the items needed in the home.
A wise woman needs to reference God first and then the husband. Also the wise woman should respect her husband.
Caring for her own children as well as others is very crucial.
Do not despise children from other mothers. Discipline the child who is going the wrong way.
Ensure family bonding, show love and don’t discriminate. Connection with children is very important, especially the females. Find out who is her friend. Also find out the kind of lives they live. Caution, counsel and guide so that they make good partners.
Teaching children the dos and donts should start from birth. Inculcate the word of God in them so that when they grow, will not depart from it.
From the Scripture, some women influenced their families positively. Virgin Mary influenced the world, she never destroyed herself hence she gave birth to Jesus Christ.
Elizabeth, despite her age, God blessed her as she waited patiently.
A wise should curb favouritism in the family and love children equally. Whether a child is your biological child or not, it is necessary to show love equally. Reprimanding the children should be the function of both man and wife.

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The Desire Of Every Woman In Marriage

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Marriage is beautiful when there is love. Before and after marriage, couples show love to themselves. But you discover that after some years, that same love turn to be something else. A lot of people start going through emotional trauma in the hands of their loved spouses.
There are many things the woman desires to keep the love on as far as marriage is concerned.
Women are blesssed with feminine abilities that can be used for good in husbands lives. With your abilities, you can create a marriage that will last till couples get old.
A woman needs
man that is honest,  trustworthy,  nice,  loving and financially stable.
There are no two ways about finance in marriage. No matter the level of love, if there is no reasonable finance,  it is always difficult to manage the home.
Referring to the Biblical belief in Genesis 3: “Your desire  shall be unto you…….. “
What this means is that whatever the woman desires in life shall be provided as far as she performs her role in her home. There are many things  the woman expects her husband to take care of.
A woman wants a husband that is not lazy,  at least helping to do one or two things when he is at home.
A man that is educated and intelligent so that they will transfer such traits to their children.
Knowing that there are traits that her husband has,  traits of taking care of people,  giving freely to people and caring for her family. She expects him to exhibit them.
A woman wants to love a husband that has family interest at heart. A man that spends time with his family,  remembering his family even as he is away from home.
No matter where he finds himself, he is not destracted by external influence. He returns home to his loved ones.
A woman should not antagonise her husband because of one error or the other. No matter the level of offence he may have committed, you still show some love.
According to the Scripture, it is with wisdom that a woman builds her home. As far as he rreturns home, you accept him as your own.
It is not as if the woman will not monitor her husband, but to certain limit.  Don’t be a monitoring spirit.  Don’t allow anything to take your joy.
Don’t loose trust in your husband. The idea of checking your husband’s phone should be discouraged. The more you check your husband and his phone, the more you loose your joy.
You can show some form of jealousy, but to an extent. Cooperation, respect and being honoured from time to time is what the woman desires.
The home should not be a battle ground for a woman and man.  A woman should be able to ask herself if the check on her husband will pay her any good.
Draw a line to a point where you checkmate your husband’s activities.
A woman wants a man that will love her and telling her you love her will be all she desires.

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Women

The Desire Of Every Woman In Marriage

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A woman needs a man that is honest,  trustworthy,  nice,  loving and financially stable.
There are no two ways about finance in marriage. No matter the level of love, If there is no money,  it is always difficult.


Referring to the Biblical belief in Genesis 3:Your desire  shall be unto you……..
That is one aspect  the woman expects her husband to take care of.
A woman wants a husband that is not lazy,  at least helping to do one or two things.   A man that is educated and intelligent.
She knows that there is a trait that her husband has.  Traits of taking care of people,  giving freely to people and caring for her family.
A woman wants to love a husband that has family interest at heart. A man that spends time with his family,  remembering his family even as he is away from home.
A woman should not antagonise her husband because of one error or the other. No matter the level of offence he may have committed, you still show some love.


According to the Scripture, it is with wisdom that the women builds her home.
It is not as if the woman will not monitor her husband, but to certain limit.  Don’t be a monitoring spirit.  Don’t allow anything to take your joy.
Don’t loose trust in your husband.
The idea of checking your husband’s phone should be discouraged. The more you check your husband and his phone, the more you loose your joy.


The home should not be a battle ground for a woman and man.  A woman should be able to ask herself if the check on her husband will pay her any good.
Draw a line to a point where you checkmate your husband’s activities.
A woman wants a man that will love her and telling her you love her will be all she desires.

Eunice Choko-Kayode

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