By CHARLES IWUOHA

A Renowned Public Affairs Analyst, Mr Lawrence Opara, has faulted the Imo State’s maternal mortality ratio on163 deaths per 100,000 live births, citing Kingmakers.com.ng as his source.

Opara, dismissed the authenticity of the commissioner for information, Declan Emelumba’s source, adding that the website lacks credible references, transparency, and verifiable methodology.

This was contained in a statement he issued on Friday and made available to journalists in Owerri, the lmo state capital.

According to Opara, the website’s claims about maternal mortality rates in various states, including Imo, appear to be fabricated.

He stated that a Dataphyte 2023 report, the actual maternal mortality rate in Imo State is approximately 1837 deaths per 100,000 live births, which is almost double the Nigerian average of 993 deaths per 100,000.

The Analyst expressed Dismay over the visible contrast between the government’s claims and the actual numbers, doubting the government’s commitment to providing accurate data and addressing the healthcare crisis in the state.

Part of the statement reads: “This shameless reliance on hoax numbers is more than just incompetence. It is chronic negligence and mindless wickedness dressed up as governance.

“It tells every Imolite that the people in charge are not only incapable of doing something as basic as collecting real data, but also more willing to put out fake statistics than introspect and try to bridge this data gap. If the state’s health statistics are sourced from fantasy websites, then I don’t even want to think about how bad it is in other sectors.

“The lives of mothers and babies in Imo State are not a PR prop for the governor’s ignorant lapdogs to play stupid politics with. It is an issue too sacrosanct to be twisted for political convenience. Every single death is a human tragedy, because this is someone’s daughter, sister, or wife gone because the system failed them. Until we have a government that confronts reality instead of hiding behind hoax websites, the tragedies will continue.

“So yes, Dr. Amadi’s numbers are on-point, and they force us to face the ugly truth that we have to sit up and save the lives of women and children in our state.

“And to those in charge: please stop treating us like fools. This is the digital age. You can’t just cook up tales of rainbows and sunshine and expect us to swallow them happily, while the reality burns the skin from our bones.

“You are barely 2 years into your second tenure but you are more focused on politicking for the next election than on delivering any actual governance. It is our brothers and sisters that suffer and die while you fiddle. Get back to work!”

Argueing that the government’s reliance on fabricated statistics is not only incompetent but also negligent and wicked. By using fake numbers, the government is avoiding the reality of the healthcare crisis in Imo State and failing to address the root causes of maternal mortality, he asserted.

He demanded the government takes immediate action to address the healthcare crisis and provide accurate data on maternal mortality rates, adding that until the government confronts reality and takes concrete steps to improve healthcare, the tragedies will continue.