Natasha Demands Better Pay for Doctors as Rural Mothers Face Health Crisis

(Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. Photo by The Sun Nigeria)

Kogi Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has called for a stronger healthcare system in Nigeria, with better working conditions, pay and welfare for doctors, nurses, midwives and other health workers.

She spoke at the ongoing Unfinished event organised by Ward-C with the National Human Rights Commission, where she joined talks on maternal health, women's rights and reproductive choices.

She said fixing maternal deaths takes more than statistics and that the country must look at what women, children and health workers face at the point of care.

The senator said health workers, especially those in poor and remote communities, need good pay, working equipment, essential drugs, steady electricity, a good work environment and chances to grow in their careers.

She said buildings and machines are useless without the people to run them, and that better conditions would keep workers motivated, especially in rural areas.

She questioned whether rural health centres have the staff and equipment to handle risky pregnancies and newborn emergencies, and whether there is enough power in villages to keep incubators running.

She also called for stronger referral links between rural clinics and bigger hospitals, plus working labs, enough blood supply, newborn units, emergency transport, and steady power and water.

Akpoti-Uduaghan doubted that current maternal death figures show the true picture in rural areas.

She said the real numbers could be double, since repeated deaths can start to feel normal and some are never officially recorded.

She said her worry about maternal care in underserved areas led her to build a maternity centre.

On reproductive choices, she said her exposure to different health systems and advocacy work has widened her understanding of the hard situations some women and girls face.

She called for support systems that give women in difficult pregnancy situations access to information, counselling and help.

She said open conversation has moved her from a pro-life stance to seeing the reasons for choice, and that she would support more of such talks.

She added that the wellbeing of children must stay at the centre of these discussions, and that every child should be born into a home with love and care.