By: Gabriel Parker – parkergabrielmc@gmail.com
Tubmanburg, Bomi County – Doctors report emanating from Bomi County has revealed that there is an increase in the number of home deliveries which is leading to rise in Maternal and Child Mortality.
Liberia Excellent News Network (LENN) has learnt that many pregnant women in labour are attended to by ‘traditional birth attendance’ whose lack of medical knowledge sometimes lead to the death of the child or mother or most times complication.
Medical Doctors at the Liberian Government Hospital in Tubmanburg City have alarmed over the surge in home deliveries and said it is happening all across Bomi County.
The Hosptial’s Medical Director Dr. Levi Korhenia and the County Health Officer Dr. Annet Brima David told reporters in the Western Region County that several women of the county are refusing to visit the hospital for safe deliveries, instead they prefer dealing with traditional birth attendance at homes.
They said the refusal of these women to seek medical attention during delivery is a one of the major challenges facing the Bomi County Health Team,
“The practice of home delivery puts both the mothers and their babies at risk and it is contributing significantly to maternal and infant mortality in this county.” Dr. Korhenia said.
The professionals then called on all pregnant women across the county to make use of the available health services, especially during childbirth to ensure safer deliveries.
According to them, unlike Tubmanburg and its surrounding areas, some pregnant women in the county’s two designated health districts are trying to make use of nearby health centers but more needs to be done.
The health administrators are therefore encouraging community members, especially local leaders, to support efforts in promoting health facility-based deliveries to help reduce maternal deaths and improve healthcare outcomes in Bomi County.
