Anambra has recorded 20 maternal deaths from nine healthcare facilities across the state between January and June 2022.

Obianuju Okoye, the state’s reproductive health coordinator, disclosed this at the first maternal mortality review meeting on Tuesday in Awka.

“From the reports on our e-platform, the state recorded 20 deaths from nine hospitals between January and June, mostly from hard-to-reach areas,” she said.

Ms Okoye said the state established an electronic platform where hospitals in the state could record data on maternal deaths.

Also speaking, Chinomnso Nnebu, a community physician at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), lamented that many pregnant women deliver at faith-based organisations instead of hospitals.

“Some faith-based organisations will keep pregnant women and be praying for them instead of advising them to go to the hospital. Faith works, but faith without work is dead,” he said. “We need to educate pregnant women to stop giving birth in prayer houses because they cannot manage pregnancy complications.”

Health commissioner Afam Obidike said the meeting was to review the causes of maternal deaths in Anambra and proffer solutions to end maternal deaths.

According to Mr Obidike, Governor Charles Soludo’s administration is adopting a holistic approach to end maternal mortality in partnership with the private health sector, which offered 70 per cent of health services.

(NAN)