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Maternal-Child Mortality: Stakeholders Advocate Law Compelling Women To Deliver In Hospitals

Published

4 months ago

January 30, 2026

Some health stakeholders in Bauchi state have advocated for the legislation of a law to compel pregnant women to attend antenatal care and be delivered of her baby in health facilities in the state.

The stakeholders, who made the suggestion at a 2-Day High Level Engagement with the State, Local Government Policy Makers and Legislators Toward Improving Sexual Reproductive Health and Right, Maternal Newborn Child Healthcare and Nutrition on Thursday, said the move would help to reduce the rates of Maternal and Child mortality in the state.

Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the engagement, Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed, the Executive Chairman, Bauchi state Primary Healthcare Development Board (BSPHDB), said the Board realized that there were lots of women who attended antenatal care but decided to deliver at home, which he said could lead to complications and contributed to maternal Child mortality in the state.

“The only way to solve this problem is to bring everybody on board and profer solutions.

“One of the suggestions made was that the state should have a legislation that will compel women to attend antenatal and deliver in health facilities.

“If a woman fails to attend antenatal or deliver in a health facility, there should be a penalty either by monetary fines or a jail term because she is jeopardizing the lives of our children and that of herself,” he said.

Also speaking, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, the Chief of Field Office, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), said if such a law is made, nobody could stop women from going for antenatal or delivering in the hospital.

Rafique who expressed worry over the high level of maternal-child mortality in the state, said with support from the Canadian Government, UNICEF is embarking on sexual Reproductive Health rights of adolescent girl’s project that focuses on empowering and educating them to become the healthy mothers of the future, which would automatically reduce maternal and child mortality in the state.

She explained that UNICEF is working with health stakeholders, traditional and religious leaders to ensure that women are aware of health services needed to be accessed during pregnancy for safe delivery as well as post delivery services they needed to access.

“We are starting from the root cause and we are working on the access to health services for pregnant mothers.

“A pregnant mother should deliver in a safe environment with quality care which can reduce a lot of newborn and maternal mortality at the same time.

“This advocacy meeting is with all the Bauchi state House of Assembly members with all the 20 Local Government Chairmen in the state, traditional and religious leaders and all the people who are working at the LGA and hospital levels,” she said.

In his statistics presentation, Mr Oluseyi Olosunde, UNICEF’s Health Specialist in the state, said that three out of 10 women deliver in hospital representing 31 percent while the remaining seven which represent 69 percent deliver at home.

On antenatal, he explained that out of 100 women, 57 attend antenatal care while 43 don’t, adding that what to do in order to prevent women from delivering at home and ensure adherence to antenatal activities was the reason for the high level engagement.

Responding, the Speaker, Bauchi state House of Assembly, Abubakar Suleiman said that the people sometimes needed to be forced through a law to access something good for them.

“It has been mentioned here that all these things are their rights and not even a privilege.

“What we are considering is to come up with a law that will force women to adhere to antenatal activities so as to reduce this maternal and child mortality we are facing in the state,” he said.

The High Level Engagement was organized by the state’s Ministry of Health and Social Welfare through the Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Board with support from UNICEF.

News

Migration Agency Warns Migrants Against Irregular Travel Routes

Published

7 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with Giving is Healing Foundation, has sensitised residents of Ayobo in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State on the dangers of irregular migration and the need to embrace legal travel procedures.

Speaking during a sensitisation programme held at Megida Ifelodu Community Development Association in Ayobo, the founder of Giving is Healing Foundation, Mr. Gbolahan Ayediran, warned intending migrants against using illegal travel routes.

Ayediran said many Nigerians desire to migrate abroad in search of better opportunities but often ignore proper procedures, thereby exposing themselves to several dangers.

“Lots of people want to migrate and most of them do it in the wrong direction. The reason for the programme is for us to advise people on how they can migrate in the right way. As much as migration is their right, they should do it correctly,” he said.

He advised intending travellers to obtain the necessary travel documents before embarking on any journey, noting that such documents include international passports, visas, flight tickets and yellow cards, depending on the destination country.

According to him, migrants should also gather adequate information about their destination countries to enable them make informed decisions before travelling.

Ayediran further highlighted some of the dangers associated with irregular migration, including abuse, exploitation, discrimination and forced labour.

Also speaking, the Chairman of Megida Ifelodu Community Development Association, Elder Mathews Amusan, commended the organisers for enlightening members of the community on safe migration practices.

He urged residents planning to travel abroad to always follow legal migration procedures to avoid falling victim to human trafficking and other migration-related challenges.

One of the participants, Mr. Kolawole Adenoko, said the programme enlightened him on the dangers of irregular migration and the importance of travelling through the proper channels.

He added that he would also educate his relatives and friends on the risks associated with illegal migration.

News

Shatta Wale Bailed Burna Boy From Ghana Prison After Arrest For Smoking Weed – Captan

Published

9 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

Ghanian singer, Captan, has claimed that his former record label boss, Shatta Wale, once bailed Nigerian singer Burna Boy out of prison in Ghana after he was allegedly arrested for smoking weed.

Speaking in a recent podcast interview, Captan claimed that Shatta Wale sent him and others to free Burna Boy from police custody.

He also claimed that Shatta Wale and his group once accommodated Burna Boy when he was being hunted by some dangerous men.

Captan said, “I once bailed Burna Boy out of prison in Ghana when he was arrested for smoking weed. Shatta Wale sent me and some guys to go and free him from police custody.

“There was a time we also accommodated him when some people were after his life. We helped him settle the case.”

He added that he and Burna Boy are no longer in good terms after the Nigerian artist’s fallout with his mentor, Shatta Wale.

He, however, said he and Shatta Wale are open to reconciling with Burna Boy if he asks for it.

Watch the video here

News

Children’s Day: Chaos At Ogbe Stadium As Dozens Faint

Published

1 day ago

May 27, 2026

Editor

Chaos erupted on Wednesday during the Children’s Day celebration as dozens of students reportedly collapsed following a stampede triggered by the use of pepper spray.

The event,
organised by the Edo State Ministry of Education at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium was disrupted after some male students of Ihogbe College allegedly made uncompromising advances towards female students at the venue.
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‎ A parent who identified himself as Oboh Emmanuel said, “the behaviour of those uncultured students attracted the attention of bouncers stationed at the stadium as they rebuked the male students.”
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‎Oboh said the affected students later regrouped and attacked the bouncers, leading to a confrontation within the crowded arena.

READ ALSO:Children’s Day: Edo Commits To Child Protection
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It was gathered that in the ensuing confusion, the bouncers were reported to have deployed pepper spray in an area occupied by a large number of students.
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‎Several students, particularly female students, reportedly fainted after inhaling the substance, while others sustained injuries after being stepped on during the ensuing melee.
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‎The panic was said to have spread across the stadium as students, teachers and parents scampered for safety.
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‎Many of the affected students were reportedly rushed to the Edo Specialist Hospital for medical attention.

Reacting to the incident, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Dr Patrick Ebojele, said the security personnel that fired the tear gas had been detained.

He said all the students, except two, that were rushed to the hospital have been discharged.

Ebojele stated that doctors wanted to observe the students till tomorrow before allowing them to go home.

“The two students are not seriously injured. Doctors want to observe them overnight. Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education is still at the hospital. The man who used pepper spray has been detained.

“The incident did not happen the way it is being exaggerated. All modalities were put in place to ensure the children enjoyed their day.”
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