In an inspiring effort to improve healthcare delivery for expectant mothers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Rotary Maternal and Child Health (RMCH) led a crucial health sensitization program in the Yimitu community, Waru.
Held on July 16, 2024, the event aimed to engage both male and female community leaders in vital discussions about preventive measures to avoid home deliveries and unwanted pregnancies.
Our correspondent, noted an impressive turnout of women, though fewer men attended the event.
The gathering brought together women of all ages who eagerly listened to health experts on how to prevent the risks associated with home deliveries during labor.
Despite the event being organized for both men and women, recognizing that birth challenges affect all genders, the men’s absence was felt.
This is despite the combined efforts of the Rotary RMCH Project and Healthy Families in Nigeria to tackle newborn threats.
Addressing the attendees, Rotary Chief Midwife Hannatu Dung highlighted the routine nature of such initiatives, which aim to equip participants with essential hygiene practices and the ability to recognize early signs of labor.
As well as educating them on the importance of hospital facilities in managing modern birth issues.
We are talking about the risks of home delivery the risks of going to a TBA to deliver. We are very particular about delivering in the care of skilled birth attendants somebody who is recognized by WHO as defined by WHO, a doctor a nurse is a midwife and or community extension worker who has been trained in modified lifesaving skills so we expect that every woman who is pregnant goes through the process until she delivers and including post-Natal care.
Chief Nurse Roseline Edozie of Yimitu Primary Health Care Center Waru, spoke about the center’s staffing challenges and appealed to the federal government to hire more personnel to meet the community’s needs.
We have a good number of clients in antenatal clinic but where we have issues is in the delivery right now I’m the only midwife in primary healthcare. The government has a lot to do in that aspect at least to cover the three shifts morning afternoon and night so when they come there they are attended to by qualified nurses. That is the challenge we’re having because these women sometimes when they come there in the night nobody as the midwife to attend to them and if I’m the one coming there I’ll be discouraged I would like to go back to another place, so you know it’s a very big challenge.
Beneficiaries such as Dauda Ibrahim, Mai Anguwua of Yimitu, Comfort Emmanuel, and Zaka Abigail emphasized the outreach’s significant impact on their community and families, expressing gratitude for the valuable information and support provided.