Harsh Economy Heightening Cervical Cancer, Infants’ HIV Cases In Nigeria, SOGON Warns

The Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria (SOGON), has raised the alarm over myriad of health challenges including cervical cancer, Human Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV) afflicting women and new born babies, noting that access to health services have been difficult due to harsh economy limiting out – of – pocket expenses for the victims.

The health experts also deliberated on the prevalence of gender – based violence and other health challenges in women and children, regretting that the action plan towards the attainment of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SSGs) in maternal and child health remains unsatisfactory.

These were some of the key concerns raised at the 58th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of SOGON, which ended over the weekend at Ibom Hall, Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, after four days of deliberations by over 350 participants.

Under the central theme; “Sustaining Quality Maternal and Child Health in a Challenging Economy”, the conferees lamented over Nigeria’s worsening economic conditions and how to improve her equally abysmal maternal and child health indices by providing and sustaining quality healthcare.

The national president of SOGON, Prof. Okechukwu Ikpeze, who read the communique, jointly signed by the general secretary, Prof. Azubuike Onyebuchi, called on governments at all levels, concerned health sector stakeholders and other authorities to be part of a holistic action strategy to address the challenges.

Parts of the communique reads, “There is a need for increased health financing in our budget and judicious use of resources. Efforts should be intensified to increase insurance coverage of citizens in order to minimise out-of-pocket expenditure which is unnecessarily high for our depressing economy.

“There is urgent need to augmented access to healthcare through enhanced planning, equitable service delivery, and improved accountability and partnerships

“Mass HPV vaccination campaigns should be sustained and advocacy to our religious and traditional leaders, to foster acceptance among adolescent girls.

“Encouraging community access to family planning commodities, dispelling myths, and ensuring obstetric care accessibility. SOGON aligns with the sector-wide approach of the Federal Ministry of Health in order to achieve its new health-sector blueprint.”