National Chairman, Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria, Prof. Obehi Okojie, has  decried the high maternal mortality in Nigeria.

Okojie spoke in an interview with our correspondent on Saturday on the sideline of the 29th National Scientific conference and Annual General Meeting of APHPN in Ilorin.

The theme of the conference was: ‘Reducing maternal mortality in Nigeria: The way forward.’

 She said 54 women out of 1,000 pregnant women were likely to die in Nigeria, adding that all stakeholders must collaborate to reduce it.

Okojie also called on President Goodluck Jonathan to assent to the National Health Bill, noting that the bill would make professionals more accountable and more responsible.

According to her, the bill streamlined some gray areas in the national health care delivery.

She said, “Our indicator for maternal mortality in Nigeria is too high.  The indicator is 54 women per one thousand.  It is a sign of underdevelopment. We need to really do something about it.  That is one of the major aims of the Millennium Development Goals, that is reducing maternal mortality in Nigeria.”

Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer,  National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Abuja;  Dr. Ado  Muhammad, said there was mismatch between resource allocation, health spending and burden of disease.

He also noted that there were low levels of accountability especially at the local government area level.