The management of University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH in Benin City has lamented the surge in underage pregnancies, amid paternity crisis.
A Consultant in Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecologist, Charles Uwagboe, raised the alarm when he featured on Friday, Radio programme in Benin.
The Consultant also encouraged primary and Secondary health institutions to referral patients with complicated and other serious health challenges to show up at tertiary hospitals in time, to minimize preventable mortality rate.
He highlighted some steps the health facility has taken to address the nuance, while urging Nigerians to embrace the federal government Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).
The intervention is extending financial coverage to Comprehensive Emergency Obstetrics and Newborn Care (CEmONC) services for vulnerable families across designated health facilities.
He said, “We have many underaged girls that are pregnant, most of them do not register for pre-natal care before presenting in hospital.
“One thing that we have discovered in young girls getting pregnant.
“When the labour comes, they will go and meet Traditional Birth Attendants, TBA and quacks. And when complications begin, before she will run to UBTH.
“We are advising hospitals that refer patients to the UBTH, to do so in time to reduce the maternal mobility”, Dr Uwagboe said.
