By Francesca Hangeior

The European Union (EU) has commenced a series of strategic events to mark its Climate Month ahead of COP29 taking place in in Baku, Azerbaijan, next month.

The organisation said the events are part of efforts to foster sustainability through climate action.

The EU Climate Month, with the theme “Opportunities for Growing Green Together,” features a series of impactful events aimed at highlighting the importance of collaboration between the EU, Nigeria, and other key stakeholders in promoting sustainable development.

Head of Cooperation, EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS Massimo De Luca said these events, organised within the framework of the EU’s Global Gateway Strategy, showcase how the EU is creating opportunities for innovation, green growth, and shared climate responsibility.

Senior representatives of European investors and Nigerian public and private entities already active or about to enter the green bond market recently gathered in Abuja to deepen understanding of opportunities in the Nigerian Market, ahead of the imminent launch of the EU Global Green Bonds Initiative, anticipated to spur green investments totalling up to €15-20 billion.

De Luca said: “EU Climate Month reflects our deep commitment to driving sustainable solutions in partnership with Nigeria.

“Each event is an opportunity not only to share knowledge and best practices but also to inspire innovation in tackling climate challenges. Our goal is to foster lasting, impactful change through collaboration, empowering both Nigeria and the EU to grow green together.

“This initiative is part of the EU’s Global Gateway Strategy, which focuses on investing in sustainable infrastructure globally. Through these efforts, we aim to support green growth, particularly in key sectors like energy, climate-smart agriculture, and digitalisation, contributing to Nigeria’s sustainable development goals.”

De Luca added: “In this context, the EU-Nigeria Climate and Energy Dialogue revolved around Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), Energy Transition and access, carbon pricing, monitoring and reporting of emissions, and the upcoming 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29).

“The recently launched Nigeria Methane Emissions Reduction Programme will focus on building the capacity of stakeholders for measuring and monitoring emissions from the oil & gas sector, agriculture and waste. This October, it will bring together the stakeholders of the oil and gas sector, including international oil companies (IOCs), indigenous oil companies, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), and others, to reduce methane emissions. Methane contributes to ozone layer depletion, negatively impacts climate change, and poses health risks to communities.

“The training of Nigeria’s climate negotiators for COP29 aims to enhance the knowledge and negotiation skills of climate leaders and advocates.

“The Nigeria Energy Support Programme (NESP) III event will mark the launch of the third phase of this flagship project providing 360 degrees support to the renewable energy and energy efficiency sector in Nigeria. It will be held together with the latest novel initiative brought to Nigeria by the EU, Get.Invest, which will develop the renewable energy investment pipeline.

“The support for sustainable aviation fuel programme will focus on decarbonising the aviation sector by promoting the use of sustainable fuels, such as biofuels (plant-based), instead of conventional crude oil-derived fuels. This event is part of a bigger EU multi-country intervention, for which Nigeria was prioritised.

“The Global Gateway is an EU strategy to invest in sustainable infrastructure projects worldwide. In Nigeria, the initiative is focusing on sectors such as energy, transport, digitalisation, agriculture/climate smart value chains, as well as health and education.”

By Francesca Hangeior

Gynaecologists have expressed concern that the recent hike in fuel prices could significantly reduce antenatal attendance among pregnant women across the country.

The maternal health experts have warned that low antenatal attendance could lead to poor pregnancy outcomes due to a lack of supervision and specialist care.

The physicians further expressed worry that the hike in fuel prices could exacerbate Nigeria’s already troubling maternal health indices, highlighting that effective antenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum care were crucial in averting maternal mortality.

The hardship, which started after the removal of fuel subsidy and devaluation of the naira, was exacerbated on Wednesday when the pump price of fuel jumped from around N800 to N1,150 per litre.

This has led to increased transport fares nationwide and worsening the hardships faced by Nigerians.

The gynaecologists disclosed that the new fuel pump price would certainly impact antenatal attendance, stating that pregnant women with low income would not be regular with their appointments due to high transport fares.

The World Health Organisation’s new guidelines recommend at least eight antenatal visits during pregnancy, emphasising that care should begin within the first trimester.

According to the 2018 National Demographic and Health Survey, Nigeria has a worrisome maternal mortality ratio of 512 deaths per 100,000 live births.

Speaking exclusively with PUNCH Healthwise in different interviews, the gynaecologists expressed concern that reduced antenatal attendance would prevent many expectant mothers from receiving necessary interventions.

Dr Chukwuneme Okpala
A Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital in Nnewi, Anambra State, Dr Chukwuneme Okpala, warned that the recent fuel price hike would lead to decreased antenatal attendance.

He explained that the initial increase in fuel prices had already raised transportation costs, and the latest hike had further worsened the situation, making it difficult for many pregnant women to keep to their appointments.

Okpala stated, “Hospitals will see a decline in antenatal care attendance in Nigeria due to the rising fuel cost. High transportation costs will have a ripple effect on people’s living standards, reducing the purchasing power of pregnant women.

“Many will struggle to afford basic needs, which will inevitably affect their ability to attend appointments. When finances are tight, families will have to prioritise essentials like food over healthcare, leading to fewer women attending routine antenatal services.

“Many women will not visit the hospital regularly for antenatal care due to financial constraints, regardless of their proximity to healthcare facilities.”

Okpala stressed that irregular attendance at antenatal clinics could lead to poor quality care, significantly impacting pregnancy outcomes.

“Without regular visits, those who need interventions may not receive them. Attending antenatal clinics frequently increases the chances of detecting and managing potential complications.

“Only through hospital visits can healthcare providers assess and identify any issues, whether maternal or foetal. When women do not present or arrive late, it often results in more severe problems that could have been addressed earlier”, he said.

Okpala lamented that decreased antenatal attendance will exacerbate Nigeria’s maternal health indices.

“If the current hardships persist, our maternal health statistics will suffer. In 2023, the WHO reported that Nigeria has the second highest rates of maternal, stillbirth, and neonatal deaths in the world, following India,” he said.

The expert explained that maternal mortality serves as an indirect measure of a country’s Gross Domestic Product, adding, “If our GDP declines, healthcare will be adversely affected. Preventing maternal mortality relies on proper antenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum care.

“If women begin to seek alternative care due to high transportation costs, our maternal mortality rates will undoubtedly rise. While the effects may not be immediately visible, they will become apparent if the current trend continues without intervention.”

Offering recommendations, Okpala stated that the government was aware of the necessary actions to take, as many professionals have provided potential solutions.

He said, “The government has two options: either reinstate the fuel subsidy and tackle corruption or refine our fuel and sell it reasonably. Alternatively, they could establish an affordable public transport system for antenatal mothers, enabling them to attend their appointments.”

He emphasised that such measures could lead to positive pregnancy outcomes, asserting, “The responsibility lies with the government, not individuals. If they implement these changes, it would help, but I remain sceptical about their willingness to do so.

“Our government travels abroad and observes how things work there. If we can enhance purchasing power, we will access quality care; if purchasing power decreases, the outcomes will suffer.”

He said, “If a person earns N100,000 and that amount remains unchanged over time, their quality of care, as well as the quality of food they can afford, will decline.

“Consequently, the amount they can allocate for healthcare will also decrease. The government knows what needs to be done, but corruption often hinders these efforts.”

Corroborating Okpala’s statement, a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital in Bayelsa State, Dr Judiet Ugbechie, emphasised that reduced antenatal attendance increases the risk of pregnancy complications.

She noted that higher numbers of antenatal visits are crucial for decreasing the likelihood of stillbirths and improving pregnancy outcomes.

Ugbechie said, “Having eight or more contacts for antenatal care can significantly reduce perinatal deaths compared to having only four visits or none at all.

“A woman’s visit to her antenatal care provider should encompass more than just a routine check-up; it should involve comprehensive care and support throughout the pregnancy.”

She highlighted that more frequent and higher-quality visits between women and their healthcare providers facilitate the uptake of preventive measures, timely detection of risks, and address health inequalities.

“Antenatal care is particularly vital for first-time mothers, as it sets the foundation for how they will engage with antenatal care in future pregnancies,” she said.

She recommended that pregnant women schedule their first antenatal visit within the first 12 weeks of gestation, followed by subsequent visits at 20, 26, 30, 34, 36, 38, and 40 weeks.

By Francesca Hangeior

Leading health experts have said doctors should ensure they account for the placenta of women after childbirth to avoid getting into trouble with their family members.

The physicians revealed that many doctors had been harassed by family members of women who delivered in their hospitals for not being able to account for the placenta.

According to the senior health practitioners although there was no scientific basis for placenta collection, some Nigerians insisted on collecting it after childbirth due to cultural beliefs.

Recall that in March 2024, the police in Kwara State arrested a doctor and three nurses following the disappearance of the umbilical cord and placenta of a newborn baby at Government Cottage Hospital, Iloffa in the Oke-Ero Local Government Area of the state.

The mother, identified as Mrs C. Williams, a class teacher at Orota Secondary School, Odo-Owa, was reported to have had the child on Sunday night but was not given the umbilical cord and the placenta by the hospital’s workers.

It was gathered that the health workers were detained by the general Investigation unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department of the command in Ilorin.

A Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Dr. Joseph Akinde, told our correspondent that some family members were so crazy about the placenta to the point that they could sue the doctor if he failed to provide it after delivery.

Akinde, who is a former chairman, Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria, Lagos State chapter, said the placenta, in some cultures in Nigeria, especially in the eastern part, is highly valued.

He explained, “We have people that are superstitious. If a doctor cannot account for the placenta, he can be fought to any length, especially in the eastern part of the country.

“Some people bury the placenta in designated places. Their belief is that no matter where the child grows, he will always trace his path to where the placenta is buried.

“Some people believe that the placenta could be used for ritual purposes, hence their insistence on taking possession of it.

“So, that is why some families are so crazy about it that if a doctor cannot account for it, they might even want to take him to court.”

Akinde pointed out that some people believe that the destiny of the child is linked to whatever is done with the placenta.

“But there is no medical basis for all these and there is no scientific basis for such belief,” he warned.

“So, many doctors have been harassed because they could not account for the placenta. I remember some time ago, a family made a hell of noise because a doctor in one of the government hospitals where the woman delivered could not account for the placenta.

“They went to the press and they were making noise that the doctor had sold the placenta of their baby, accusing the doctor of selling the destiny of the baby.”

The gynaecologist urged doctors to always make sure that they account for the placenta in order to save themselves from accusations.

He suggested that doctors should always ask family members of the woman if they want to collect the placenta or not before discarding it.

A past Chairman, Nigerian Medical Association, Cross River State chapter, Dr. Innocent Abang, also corroborated Akande’s statement, saying many people are steeped in traditional beliefs and practices about the placenta, though such practice has no scientific basis.

Abang said, “They believe that if somebody picks a baby’s placenta and buries it somewhere, that is where the child’s destiny is buried.

“So, there are a lot of connotations attached to it. Most times, family members take it themselves and go and bury it under a tree. Sometimes, they plant coconut atop the placenta.

“They believe that as the coconut is growing, that is the child growing. As it blossoms, they believe that the life of the child will blossom. So, there are a lot of spiritual, traditional and cultural connotations attached to the placenta. It is really funny.”

The physician noted that medically, immediately after a child is born, the child has no business with the placenta, stressing also that the collection of the placenta by family members has no link with medicine.

“But some family members can sue a doctor or burn down his hospital if he fails to produce the placenta.

“Many families do not joke with it. If the doctor mistakenly throws it away, that doctor is in trouble. They will read many meanings to it.

“Many doctors have suffered at the hands of family members of women after delivery because of the placenta. I have seen where a family member made serious trouble in a hospital over placenta. But those who have no attachment to the placenta are not bothered,” he said.

He, however, said, “In medical practice, anything that you bring out of a patient must be shown to the patient.”