Govt says 872 pregnant women die during child birth

The Director-General, Cross River Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Betta Edu, disclosed this in Calabar on Thursday, November 3.

She spoke during a High-Level Meeting on "Sayana Press" Scale UP Project organised by Action Health Incorporated in collaboration with UNFPA.

Edu stressed the need for Family Planning (FP) vaccines by couples, rather than beliefs in the use of cultural practices by women especially those domiciled in the rural areas.

"Some women would tell you about salt and water, coca cola and salt, washing immediately after sex, tying of piece of red cloth around the waist region which are all cultural practices that doesn’t work," the official said.

Also speaking at the meeting, Mrs Adenike Esiet, Executive Director, Action Health Incorporated (AHI), said Sayana Press is an "all in one," three-month progestin-only ingest-able contraceptive that can be used by women of productive age.

Esiet stated that it was not the first time that the product would be used in sub-Saharan Africa, adding that it has been used in Burkina Faso, Niger, Uganda and Senegal.

"It has been very helpful in the reduction of maternal mortality in those countries," she said.

She further explained that the product, with a three-year shelve life, can be administered by anyone as long as the person has undergone training.

She advised women to always go for counselling to be able to understand the side effects in case the need arises when they use the first dose.