As part of the vision to influence pregnant women and mothers on the benefits of giving birth in hospitals, Cross River State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Inyang Asibong has made it clear that every woman that delivers (gives birth) in the General Hospital(s) across the State will be paid ten thousand naira (N10,000) after her discharged.
Calabar Reporters confirmed this new development when a patient who decided to give us her name as Mrs. B (not her real name) on Tuesday the 2nd of August, 2016 told our Correspondents how a card was given to her in the hospital during her discharge and then followed by an SMS with directions on how to cash the money at First Bank Nigeria, Mayne Avenue Branch, Calabar.
Confirming the report, Mrs. B said she cashed out the money on Wednesday 3rd August at Mayne Avenue with ease. She said, “I didn’t know about all this, but am really impress and I thank Dr. Asibong as she’s they to me and other women when in the delivery ward at the General Hospital, Calabar. I really appreciate and I urge other women going to prayer houses to deliver at the end at which many die, to embrace hospitals, especially General Hospital which is the safest place to give birth”.
Meanwhile, Dr. Asibong had before now told Calabar Reporters in an interview that the maternal mortality rate in Nigeria is about 576, the previous one being 545. She said, “You can see that there is an increase from 545 to 576 per 100,000 life birth which is really abysmal.
“We are trying to bring it down to a one (1) digit figure since 576 is still a three (3) digit. Many countries are having 1-digit, talking about 9 per 100,000 and we are having this whole number. It therefore means that out of every 100,000 mothers that gives birth, 576 of them dies. This is quite a huge number”. She added.
With this new development on trying to let people know the safety of giving birth in hospitals, the N10,000 is another means to support mothers as at the end will reduce maternal mortality rate across the state.