Drawing from their various experience from a recently concluded seminar in Kuala Lumpur, the experts said that the maternal mortality rate in Malaysia has dropped to 6%, while that of Nigeria is as high as 37%. Nigeria according to them is one of the countries with the highest rate of maternal mortality.

Speaking at the event, the chairman of the event, Professor Innocent Ujah from Jos University Teaching Hospital lamented the poor attitude towards maternal health in Nigeria and added that Nigeria has the highest maternal mortality ratios in the world. The Professor who is the dean of the faculty of medicine, University of Jos and a consultant gynaecologist gave the average for maternal mortality at 800/100,000 live births with wide regional disparities.

He went to say that the major causes of maternal mortality are; post partum haemorrhage (PPH) which accounts for 20 -30%, eclampsia which accounts for 23%, Sepsis accounts for 17%. Other causes include; unsafe abortion, which accounts for 25 -40% while Uterine atony accounts for over 70% of deaths due to PPH.

Listing the various treatments available, the experts commended NAFDAC and Emzor for registering and making available Misoprostol, a drug which has been found to be one of the most important medications in obstetric practice. According to Professor Ujah, Misoprostol is stable, safe, effective, affordable and relevant to our rural communities where there is dearth of specialist and emergency medical facilities. It should therefore be a priority option in the prevention and treatment of PPH and maternal mortality reduction.

The event, which could be best described as a very rich assembly of seasoned practitioners collectively called for a radical change in attitude towards maternal health and the need for a reappraisal of values. Drawing from their various experiences they consistently compared the health infrastructures obtainable in the country with what is obtainable elsewhere and implored the government and the private sector to take a renewed look at maternal health. Citing an example with Cuba, the experts affirmed that Cuba has the lowest maternal mortality ratio in the world.

The experts collectively agreed that funding has since ceased to be an issue, what needs to be done is a radical change of mindset from blueprints and white papers to implementation.

The roll call of participants at the event include; Professor Olalekan Adetoro of Ogun State University Medical School, Professor Sola Odujinrin of WHO, and Dr. Moji Odeku; deputy director Federal Ministry of Health. Others are; Dr. Mshelia from University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Dr. Oyeniyin of Lagoon Hospital, and representatives of NAFDAC led by Mrs. Keri. Also in attendance was a representative from Catholic Mission Hospital, Dr Ali Balogun.

Expressing her gratitude to the discussants for heeding the call; Mrs. Stella Okoli, MON, Managing Director of Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries Limited reiterated the rational behind the monthly roundtable - an opportunity to bring experts together to discuss topical health issues and attempt road maps on how they could be managed. According to her; it is called HEART, because health issues are very "close to the heart of the company, Emzor is all about adding value and enriching the lives of the ordinary people on the street".