Bauchi Mulls Law to Curb Home Births as Maternal Mortality Soars
The Bauchi State Government is considering new legislation aimed at reducing the high number of women who give birth at home, a practice authorities say is contributing significantly to maternal and infant deaths in the state.
Data from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) show that only 31 per cent of women in Bauchi deliver their babies in health facilities, while about 69 per cent give birth at home.
The figures also indicate that although 57 out of every 100 pregnant women attend antenatal care, many still return home to deliver.
The trend has raised concern among health sector stakeholders, prompting discussions involving the state ministries of Health and Budget, the Primary Health Care Development Board, the Bauchi State House of Assembly, local government chairpersons and civil society organisations on ways to improve maternal and child health outcomes.
At a two-day high-level engagement with state and local government policymakers and legislators on sexual and reproductive health, maternal and child healthcare and nutrition, a UNICEF health specialist, Oluseyi Olosunde, called for urgent policy action to address the situation. He urged the state to increase funding for adolescent health, sexual and reproductive health services, as well as maternal and child care.
Similarly, the Executive Chairman of the Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Board, Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed, said the government was alarmed that many women who register for antenatal care still choose to deliver at home, exposing themselves and their babies to avoidable risks.
He said stakeholders were reviewing budgetary allocations and fund releases to ensure that health spending delivers tangible results, noting that although the state’s health budget has exceeded the 15 per cent benchmark set by the Abuja Declaration, more targeted efforts are required.
Mohammed disclosed that one of the proposals under consideration is a law that would make antenatal attendance and delivery in health facilities compulsory.
He said penalties such as fines or jail terms may apply to women who fail to comply, arguing that home delivery puts both mothers and children in danger.
Also speaking, the Chief of UNICEF Field Office, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, said such legislation would significantly increase hospital deliveries and antenatal attendance. She expressed concern over the state’s maternal and child mortality rates and said UNICEF, with support from the Canadian government, is implementing a project focused on the sexual and reproductive health rights of adolescent girls.
According to her, the initiative aims to empower and educate young girls to become healthy mothers in the future, while UNICEF continues to work with health officials, as well as traditional and religious leaders, to improve awareness and access to essential pregnancy and postnatal services.
Rafique stressed that safe delivery in well-equipped health facilities could drastically reduce both maternal and newborn deaths.
She added that the advocacy meeting brought together members of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, all 20 local government chairmen, and key community leaders across the state.
Meanwhile, the Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Abubakar Suleiman, described the current health indicators as troubling and pledged stronger legislative oversight to ensure effective service delivery by relevant agencies.
He said the House was considering a law to compel adherence to antenatal care and hospital delivery as part of efforts to address maternal and child mortality.
Suleiman added that access to quality healthcare is a right of citizens and not a privilege, noting that legislative intervention may be necessary to protect the lives of mothers and children in the state.
