The Bauchi State House of Assembly is taking legislative action to combat unsafe childbirth methods and irregular blood transfusions. By introducing a new bill, officials hope to lower preventable maternal mortality rates and elevate healthcare quality throughout the region.
Speaker Dr. Abubakar Suleiman announced the initiative during a legislative retreat in Kano, which was hosted by the Women’s Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) and AmplifyChange. The proposed law mandates that births occur in certified clinics staffed by trained professionals, while explicitly forbidding hazardous delivery techniques.
A critical component of the bill is the legal protection for pregnant women. It would criminalize the act of preventing women from seeking emergency medical care, whether by relatives or community figures. Additionally, the legislation aims to restrict blood transfusions to licensed facilities that adhere to established medical protocols.
Dr. Suleiman noted that the bill addresses issues stemming from poverty, lack of awareness, and cultural barriers that often lead women to seek care at substandard, unregistered clinics. By enforcing these new regulations, the Assembly aims to reduce complications, infections, and long-term injuries.
The bill has already cleared its first and second readings and is currently moving through the committee phase. A public hearing is scheduled for the coming week. WARDC founder Professor Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi praised the Assembly’s dedication to advancing legal frameworks that protect the welfare of women and girls in Nigeria.
