Dr. Garang Dakjur, President Association of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians of South Sudan during the first Scientific conference in Juba. (Photo: Charles Wote: Eye Media/Eye Radio).

A health expert is encouraging expectant mothers and their husbands to visit hospitals for antenatal services to lessen the risks of childbirth complications.

Dr Garang Dakjur, the president of the national Association of Gynecologists and Obstetricians, said the worsening rate of maternal mortality in the country is due to home deliveries and lack of antenatal care.

He encourages spouses to attend to antenatal service even if they are healthy.

“You need to come frequently to a health facility for checkup. You might not be sick, but some sicknesses don’t appear unless complications arise,” said Dr. Garang.

The association disclosed earlier that at least 1,150 women still die due to bleeding out of every 100,000 live births in the country.

Dr. Garang said some of the complications or even maternal-infant deaths are because couples do not seek antenatal care.

He called on husbands to be supportive to their women and go with them for a routinely health checkups.

“In the public facility, it is very rare to see a husband going with a wife to the facility,” said the specialist.

“But during this antenatal care, it is where health issues are discussed, the place of delivery is planned, how should she delivery is already planned.”

“If your wife is pregnant, come with her to the health facility, have a decision early to be with her because sometimes we need your decision, sometimes we need your opinion and sometimes we need also your help, so please come to the hospital with your wife.”

On November 13, a woman died from bleeding after giving birth in Yambio town.

The incident occurred only months after another woman died due to obstructed labor while at home in Pochalla of greater Pibor Administrative area.