Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has called for improved pay, working conditions and welfare packages for doctors, nurses, midwives and other healthcare professionals to encourage them to remain in rural and underserved communities.
The Kogi Central senator made the call at the “Unfinished” event organised by Ward-C in collaboration with the National Human Rights Commission, where she took part in discussions on maternal health, women’s rights and reproductive choices.
Akpoti-Uduaghan said reducing maternal mortality requires more than collecting statistics or building healthcare facilities, stressing that attention must also be given to the women seeking care and the healthcare workers providing it.
She argued that medical facilities cannot function effectively without qualified professionals to operate equipment and deliver care.
“Healthcare infrastructure could not function effectively without the human capital required to operate and sustain it,” she said.
The senator said healthcare workers, particularly those serving in underserved areas, need adequate remuneration, essential medicines, functional equipment, reliable electricity, conducive working environments and opportunities for professional development.
She also questioned whether rural health facilities have enough personnel and equipment to handle complicated pregnancies, premature births and emergencies involving newborns.
Akpoti-Uduaghan raised concerns about the availability of electricity to operate critical equipment such as incubators in rural communities.
“Is there electricity? Is there enough electricity in the rural areas to sustain the incubators wherever they are?” she asked.
According to her, providing medical equipment alone will not solve the problem if there are not enough trained professionals to operate and maintain the equipment.
She called for stronger referral systems linking rural primary healthcare centres with general and specialist hospitals so that women experiencing complicated pregnancies can receive timely care.
She also identified functional laboratories, adequate blood supplies, neonatal facilities, emergency transportation, reliable electricity and water as important components of an effective healthcare system.
Natasha Questions Rural Maternal Mortality Figures
The lawmaker also questioned whether existing maternal mortality figures accurately capture the situation in rural communities.
“I don’t think that data is really reflective of the situation in the rural communities. It will probably double up,” she said.
She explained that repeated maternal deaths in some communities could make such tragedies appear normal, while some deaths may never be formally recorded.
Akpoti-Uduaghan said her concerns about maternal healthcare in underserved communities had also influenced her decision to build a maternity centre.
Speaking about reproductive choices, she called for support systems that can provide women facing difficult pregnancy situations with information, counselling and appropriate assistance.
She said discussions around the issue had also challenged some of her previously held views.
“If I myself can be made to tilt from being pro-life to reasonably begin to appreciate the reason for choice, then I think I would say that I would love to support this kind of conversation,” she stated.
The senator maintained that the welfare and future of children should remain central to conversations around pregnancy and reproductive health.
She urged stakeholders to continue engaging in constructive discussions while improving healthcare infrastructure and investing in the professionals responsible for delivering care, particularly in underserved communities.
