By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A new tool that shows decision-makers how quickly expectant mothers can access emergency obstetric care in Nigeria has been introduced by Google.
This is expected to improve access to emergency maternal care in Nigeria seamlessly as the government and other stakeholders would have used the tool to know where to put healthcare facilities for easy access.
IN CAPE TOWN – Nigeria is among the sub-Saharan African countries that contribute 97 percent of maternal mortality that is preventable, health experts have lamented as more than 1,500 global stakeholders meet at the International Maternal and Newborn Health Conference (IMNHC2023).
Disclosing this was Dr. Koki Agarwal, Director, MOMENTUM Country and Global Leadership, who raised the alarm that progress in reducing the number of maternal deaths worldwide in recent years are marginal and inadequate to meet the global United Nations (UN) SDGs targets.
A report by the World Health Organization (WHO) has ranked Nigeria as the country with the second highest number of maternal, neonatal and child deaths worldwide.
The report made public on Tuesday, May 9, shows Nigeria trailing India as the two leading nations where mothers and their babies are most likely to die.
The Wellbeing Foundation Africa, a Non-Governmental Organisation, has partnered with General Electric, a multi-national company, to train midwives and nurses in Lagos State on the use of ultrasound machines for pregnant mothers, in order to improve maternal and child health outcomes.
The foundation’s Lagos State Team Lead, Dr. Tonade Ayomide, said the training involved the use of new portable hand-held V-Scan machines donated by the foundation.
From Olanrewaju Lawal, Birnin Kebbi
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) with Integrated Health Programme(IHP) has provided nutrition intervention for 420,920 children within five years across 21 local government areas of the state.
USAID-IHP also revealed that about 148,584 families have embraced child spacing, and exclusive breastfeeding for six months, which have reduced the rate of maternal mortality rate across the 225 wards and 21 Local government areas in the state.
As part of activities to mark its 2023 Water, Sanitation and Hygiene project, the Rotary Club of Uyo shelter Afrique has donated a borehole to Nung Ette community in Ibesikpo Asuta, Akwa Ibom state.
The Club extended the gesture to its host community in partnership with its Club Ambassador Engr Edo Etuk, the Managing Director of Akwa lbom State Water Company Ltd who made contributions to the success of the project.
Nigeria’s Maternal Mortality ratio is 1,047/100,000 live-births, representing the highest number of maternal deaths with approximately 82 000 deaths, and accounts for more than a quarter (28.5 per cent) of all estimated global maternal deaths in 2020, writes Ugo Aliogo
Every two minutes, one woman dies globally during pregnancy or childbirth, according to recent report by United Nations (UN) agencies.
According to society, deaths arising from maternal issues ought not to be more than 70 in a hundred thousand live births but from existing records issued by the demographic survey, the recorded maternal deaths are as many as 512 which is anything but normal.
The Federal Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria Foundation (PSN Foundation) and other partners, Saturday launched five policy documents on reproductive and maternal health.
Delta State Government has reiterated its commitment at curbing maternal mortality in the process of childbirth.
In this regard, the state government assured that it would continue to ensure that children and mothers have unhindered access to free and quality healthcare services across the state.
Delta State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Mordi Ononye, gave the assurance in Asaba, the state capital, during the One Day Stakeholders’ Dialogue on the strategies and reforms to improve maternal health capacity.
