Residents seek improved health services to discourage babies delivery abroad
NAN-ELS-1
Delivery
By Justina David Auta
Abuja, Dec. 23, 2016 (NAN) Some residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have urged government at all levels to revamp the health sector to discourage pregnant women from travelling abroad for deliveries.
Some of them told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that only the provision of functional and standard health facilities would stop the practice.
Others, however, said they would still travel out for delivery because of the dual citizenship and rights of residency and other claims the baby would enjoy.
Mrs Bosede Fatai, a business woman and mother of four, said she delivered her children abroad due to advanced health facilities.
” I prefer to deliver my babies abroad because they have all the facilities that would detect and proffer solutions to any challenges that might arise through the grace of God.”
Mrs Grace David, a legal practioner observed that some mothers prefer to deliver abroad for safety reasons, and to ensure that medical personnel are held accountable for any lapse.
” In some countries, when a case of negligence occurs, the persons involved are always held accountable for their actions.
” But here in our country, the persons involved are not usually prosecuted and are allowed to go freely without any penalty and if care is not taken, they commit the same mistake again.”
David urged the judiciary to met out punishment to people involved in such lapses to deter others.
Mrs Chinasa Ignatius, a civil servant said investing in the health sector would build confidence and break the habit of travelling abroad for medication.
” If we have all the available facilities, people would not have to fly outside the country to seek medical attention.
” This would not only generate revenue for the country, but also encourage people from other countries to also come and seek medical solution here,” she said.
According to her, the government needs to look at the health sector as an investment that would generate revenue.
” Government should also consider other channels that would fetch them money as we face economic recession.”
Similarly, Mr Emmanuel Hezekiah, an NGO worker said some women prefer to deliver their babies abroad in order to obtain dual citizenship for the baby.
” Some people feel that when they deliver their children abroad, they automatically get citizenship, which makes life easy for them, that is why they go to any length to ensure their babies are delivered abroad.”
Hezekiah called on government to initiate policies that would make the country a better place, to discourage such practice.
” When we have good policies that would revamp our nation positively, people from other countries would scamper to obtain Nigerian citizenship to benefit from it, instead of the other way round,” he said.
On his own part, a medical practioner, Dr Idi Martins also urged the government to provide adequate facilities to hospitals, research centres, and clinics, to improve the health status of the people.[NAN)
JAD/MZA
Edited by Maharazu Ahmed