The Bauchi State House of Assembly is set to pass a law against unsafe childbirth practices, pregnancy emergencies and indiscriminate blood transfusions, aimed at checking the rate of maternal mortality in the state.
BizPoint reports that the bill titled; Bill for the Prohibition of Unsafe Childbirth Practices and Unregulated Blood Transfusions in Unregistered Health Institutions in Bauchi State, seeks to outlaw deliveries at home or by unskilled persons and mandates that every birth takes place in a registered health facility with skilled attendants.
When pass into law, the Bill also criminalizes actions that endanger pregnant women, including husbands or community leaders who block hospital access, thereby setting strict penalties.
The Bill also regulates blood transfusions by banning them outside licensed hospitals and authorizes safe medical intervention to save a woman’s life, including in cases of rape or incest, with mandatory counselling and confidentiality protections for survivors.
The assembly, as part of its legislative engagement, held a one-day workshop on the proposed Bill, facilitated by Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), in collaboration with AMPLIFY CHANGE to deliberate on the proposed in Kano on Saturday.
Speaking at the event, the Speaker, Bauchi State House of Assembly, Dr. Abubakar Y. Sulaiman said the bill replaces risk with responsibility as too many women die of unsafe delivery, delayed emergency care, and unsafe blood in the state .
Mr Sulaiman noted that by eenforcing hospital-based births, protecting doctors who act to save lives, and shutting down illegal clinics, a lot of lives would be saved.
“This Bill replaces risk with responsibility. Too many women in Bauchi die from unsafe delivery, delayed emergency care, and unsafe blood.
“By enforcing hospital-based births, protecting doctors who act to save lives, and shutting down illegal clinics, we move from mourning mothers to protecting them.
“Passing this law tells every woman in Bauchi that her life is not a gamble — it is guaranteed by law. The 10th Assembly has a duty to turn safe motherhood from a hope into a right,” the Speaker said.
He lamented that many expectant mothers in urban and rural communities continue to seek delivery services “in facilities that operate outside approved regulatory standards”.
Mr Sulaiman expressed concern that some women rely on unqualified birth attendants or patronize centres that lack the required personnel, equipment, hygiene standards, emergency referral systems, and professional supervision.
“While many of these practices may be driven by poverty, ignorance, cultural beliefs, or limited access to quality healthcare, the consequences are often tragic.
“Maternal deaths, newborn complications, preventable infections, prolonged labor, permanent disabilities, and avoidable loss of lives continue to occur under circumstances that could have been prevented through proper regulation and adherence to acceptable medical standards,”
He said the workshop, therefore provides the lawmakers with an invaluable opportunity to interrogate every provision of this Bill, identify possible gaps, benefit from expert opinions, and ensure that what eventually emerges is practical, implementable, enforceable, and in the best interest of the people of Bauchi State.
“This workshop is not merely another legislative engagement. It is a strategic platform for learning, consultation, dialogue, and collaboration,” he added.
He disclosed that the Bill had already passed first, second and third reading, disclosing that the assembly would combine public hearing in the next two weeks in preparation of its passage into law.
While appreciating the assembly members for participation, the Speaker also charged them to make active and meaningful contribution in a bid to achieve the desired goal.
In her remarks, the Executive Chairman, WARDC, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi commended the legislators for the commitment as according to her, it is timely because “Nigeria has one of the highest maternal mortality rate”.
Mrs Akiyode-Afolabi noted that the Bill would contribute so much to the reduction of the maternal death numbers.
She praised the legislators for the efforts to check rampant activities of traditional birth attendants, which according to her, contribute to the rise in the rate of maternal mortality in the state.
” Also, the fact tha the bill is also looking into people whose life has been turned around as a result of incest, people that have been called bastard because they are born out of wedlock shows that the house has the women in heart.
“That is why we also celebrating them by calling them the number one He for She house in Nigeria, I stand to say that there seems to be no other House of Assembly in Nigeria in the last eight years that has been as consistent as the Bauchi State House of Assembly,” she noted.
The Executive Chairman commended the House for making laws that protect women and girl child against violence and assault.
