Nigeria loses about $1.5billion in productivity to maternal mortality annually, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has revealed.

“The country will be saving 1.5 billion dollars yearly by investing in maternal health. Investing in maternal health is a smart investment; if you put one dollar in maternal health, it will yield 120 dollars. So, it is where the government should put its money because it is yielding high returns,” UNFPA’s Senior Maternal and Newborn Health Advisor, Eugene Kongnyuy (photo), explained.

According to Kongnyuy, maternal health issues reduce productivity and participation in the labour force drain household incomes and public budget, amongst others. “UNFPA is concerned with the scourge of maternal mortality in West and Central Africa. Nigeria that contributes 2% to world population contributes 12% to maternal mortality in the world. It’s a bigger problem. Women are dying because they don’t have access to family planning (or child spacing), which contributes 30% to maternal deaths and 20% to child death,” he said.

The Deputy Representative also urged the Federal Government to stop teenage pregnancy and child marriages across the country and raise awareness on issues that affect their reproductive health and rights.

Anita Fatunji