The 2018 National Demographic Health Survey indicates that 54.7 per cent of childbirths in Plateau are carried out at home, says Commissioner for Health in Plateau, Ndem Lar.

Speaking at an event on Friday in Jos to commemorate the Safe Motherhood Day, organised by the state’s ministry of health in collaboration with the Primary Health Care Board, the commissioner lamented that only 43.4 per cent of women delivered under the care of skilled personnel in healthcare facilities in the state.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Anasfasia Donufur, Mr Lar said that 1.9 per cent delivered alone, adding that this method could be complicated at varying degrees and result in the death of the mother, new-born or both.

He added that the major causes of maternal deaths in Nigeria especially in the north were obstructed delivery, postpartum haemorrhage, pre-eclampsia, ruptured uterus and sepsis.

He said the state has deployed community health influencers to three local government areas of the state, to go from house to house to sensitise pregnant women of the dangers of not taking advantage of healthcare facilities to register and deliver their babies.

The commissioner urged women within the reproductive age bracket to avail themselves of the use of healthcare facilities when pregnant and for delivery.

He enjoined the men to support their wives morally and financially to enable them access health services during and after pregnancy especially the seven days after delivery.

He also called on communities to embrace programmes related to safe motherhood such as family planning services, immunisation services for both the mother and child and the delivery of babies in government approved hospitals.

(NAN)