It is important that the legislature looks to revive the implement the 2014 Health Act now if it is to save the millions of Nigerian women who die annually from pregnancy, childbirth and/or other conditions relating to childbirth.
According to Mr. Auwal Ibrahim, one Nigerian woman dies from conditions associated from childbirth every 10 minutes, while 7.7% of women die during childbirth or pregnancy. According to him, this appalling statistic is as a result of the low proportion fo births handled by skilled personnel alongside the poor budgetary allocation to the health sector.
Speaking at opening address at a one-day legislative and executive dialogue on action for effective implementation of policies on maternal health held in Kano, Daily Trust reports that Ibrahim said that the solution to these problems would start by the Federal Executive Council ensuring that the 2014 Health Act begins full implementation.
Specifically, he pointed to the 1% consolidated revenue fund recommended by the Act as a panacea to the funding problems and infrastructural deficit currently found in the health sector.