The meaning of ‘Daddy’

Men should get involved in maternal and baby health matters; and mothers and their communities must demand the best obstetric service levels

By Dr. Blasio Omuga Obstetrician/Gynaecologist

Over 60 per cent of expectant mothers still deliver at home or have emergency delivery before arriving at a quality delivery centre. It is a situation witnessed in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa, including Kenya.

This poses a lot of risks to both mother and the expected new born if it does not result in death, there are potential complications, some may indeed lead to irreversible damage.

To the mother, some of these risks include rapture of the uterus, fistula formation, traumatized psychology, infections, injury to the birth canal, severe life threatening hemorrhage, a painful birth process and many more.

For the new born, there may be birth injury brain damage, breathing complications, neo-natal infection and many other complications.

According to World Health Organization (V/HO), every expectant mother must have access to an institution with minimum basic services. This is referred to as essential obstetric care units with a referral system to essential emergency care units where necessary. Delivery must also be conducted by a skilled service provider

These are basic rights of every expectant mother without exception. The community and their leaders must therefore ensure that these facilities exist for expectant mothers to be effectively served in their community The mothers must also ensure that in institutions where they are served, standards are met to guarantee the required service. They therefore have a duty to find out and make sure.