The Borno Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Prof. Baba Mallam, has blamed the rate at which Nigerian women die during child birth on indecision by most families.

Mallam spoke on Monday, when he received a donation of two tricycle (keke) ambulances from an international Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Doctors Without Borders, in Maiduguri.

He said: There are many  reasons Nigerian women are dying at the point of labour.

“The indecision by the family of the pregnant women during labour has been a major cause of women’s death.

“The indecision comes in because the pregnant women are surrounded by families.

“They tell them, no you can do it.

“Give it a push and from one hour, two hours, three hours, four hours, after the woman is exhausted they now say you can go to hospital and there is a problem of transportation, she doesn’t have a car and their neighbours do not have a vehicle and, therefore, this adds to the quagmire.”

Mallam said that available statistics show that 120 Nigerian women die hourly due to delivery-related complications.

According to him, Nigeria is only better than Southern Sudan and Chad in the world, in terms of maternal mortality.

“Nigeria contributes 28.9 per cent of maternal deaths in the world,” he said, adding: “It is important for Nigerians to realise this.

“Despite the fact that Nigeria’s economy is one of the best in Africa, our medical indices are very poor.

“We are 200 million now and by 2050 we will be more than 400 million and that will make Nigeria the third largest country, in terms of population after India and China.

“You can imagine how many pregnant women will be dying.

“At the moment, every two minutes, the country loses a woman during delivery in Nigeria.

“So, if we spent 10 minutes here, 20 women would have died.

“So, it is very important we realise this as Nigerians and take everything necessary to mitigate this carnage of young women.

“And that also includes new borns because they also suffer from simple basic problems.

“As I speak here, children are dying from a blockage of airway to breathing and Nigeria is number three or four in the world, in terms of death of new borns,” Mallam said

He described the donation of the emergency transportation system as very crucial.

He said the tricycle ambulances in rural communities of Borno would go a long way in saving the lives of many pregnant women.

He expressed appreciation to the NGO for donating the “innovative tricycle ambulances” to Borno Government for the enhancement of the transportation of pregnant women from remote villages to nearby medical facilities.

Earlier, Stewart said: “We are presenting these two ambulances to the Honorable Commissioner for Health, together we have been working on how to do innovative projects so that they can be sustainable.

“We believe that these will do a good job for the human family.”

She said that the NGO had been doing a lot of innovative projects in the state, hoping that the ambulances would serve the purpose for which they were donated.

Stewart said that the organisation was committed to bringing innovative ideas into its projects in the state for sustainability.

She further said that the organisation had  observed of late that many projects were unable to survive due to the lack of funds for their sustainability.

She said that the idea of converting tricycle through local fabrication to ambulance was geared toward establishing the concept of sustainability due to its low level of fuel consumption.

Stewart, therefore, called on the government to put necessary measures in place and ensure the ambulances were deployed to where they could serve the purpose they were meant for. (NAN)

President Bola Tinubu, has congratulated Ademola Lookman, Super Eagles forward, on winning the 2024 CAF Men’s African Footballer of the Year award.

Tinubu also hailed Chiamaka Nnadozie, Super Falcons goalkeeper, for clinching the CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award.

The President similarly commended the Super Falcons for being named the Women’s National Team of the Year, Mr Bayo Onanuga, his spokesman, said in a statement on Monday.

“The awards were announced Monday night at the Palais des Congrès in Marrakech, Morocco.

“The President joins millions of Nigerians in celebrating these athletes, describing them as worthy ambassadors for showcasing their talent and bringing honour to the country on the continental and world stage.

“The President believes that this recognition by Africa’s highest football authority will inspire other upcoming athletes to remain steadfast in pursuing their dreams,” Onanuga said.

Tinubu affirmed that their determination, discipline and confidence underscored the administration’s resolve to build a better Nigeria for everyone to thrive and succeed.

‘‘These athletes embody the essential Nigerian Spirit. They signpost the best in us as a nation. Let no one ever write us off. I am incredibly proud of them.

‘‘Thank you for making Nigeria proud and keeping our flag flying.

‘‘Thank you for winning medals for Nigeria both at home and abroad. You will win more in the future,’’ the President said. (NAN)

Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State has described the wins at the 2024 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards as a “night of glory for both Nigerian football and the nation in general”.

The governor congratulated Ademola Lookman, Chiamaka Nnadozie, and the Super Falcons for their wins at the event.

Mba stated this in a congratulatory message signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on External Relations, Mr Uche Anichukwu on Tuesday in Enugu.

“Congratulations to Ademola Lookman, Chiamaka Nnadozie, and the Super Falcons on their well deserved awards as Africa’s Male Footballer of the Year, Female Goalkeeper of the Year and Female National Team of the Year, respectively, at the prestigious CAF Awards, 2024.

“It was indeed a night of glory for Nigeria. You shone like a million stars through a dint of hard work and patriotism in the year under review and we are super proud of you all.

“I hope these serve as your stepping stones unto higher ground in your individual footballing careers and for Nigerian football in general. Again, congratulations,” Mbah said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the CAF Award was held in Marrakech, Morocco on Monday.