A cross section of women in Nasarawa State have called on pregnant women to always attend antenatal and deliver in medical facilities in order to curtail the alarming rate of maternal and child mortality rate in the state.
The women made the call in separate interviews with newsmen on Wednesday in Akwanga Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
They explained that the call became imperative because of the number of women and children that are dying every year in the process of delivering at home.
Mrs Alheri Gambo said that no mother should be allowed to die because she was trying to give birth to another life.
She narrated a story of a woman in Akwanga who gave birth to twins at home and had complications after delivering.
Mrs Gambo explained that thank God the woman was rushed to a nearby medical facility where her life and that of the babies were saved.
She, however, attributed the attitude of not attending antenatal by some women to poverty and lack of awareness.
On her part, Mrs Deborah Bello said that it is mostly in rural areas that women who still do not attend antenatal during pregnancy are found.
“Most of the women who still practised the method are claiming of not having money while some is lack of proper awareness.
“If proper awareness will be created on the risk of given birth at home, I believe they will want to go to medical facilities no matter their financial situation because nobody want to die,” she added.
Mrs Bello also said that the distance of medical facilities as well as the attitude of some medical personnel are some of the reasons why some women preferred to give birth at home.
Similarly, Mrs Theresa Ableku said some of the women preferred to give birth at home due to lack of money.
She, however, appealed to all pregnant women to give priority to attending antenatal in the best interest of themselves and their babies.