By Hassan Zaggi
Rotary International has disclosed that it will intensify on awareness creation to mothers during and post pregnancy in the country.
Rotary Regional Grants Officer, Destiny Nobles, disclosed this at the technical session of the programme of SCALE and flag-off of the two million dollar initiative which is tagged ‘Together for Healthy Families in Nigeria”, in Abuja.
The initiative which will be implemented by the Rotary International is aimed at addressing high maternal and infant mortality rates in the four states of Ekiti, Nasarawa, Gombe and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The initiative targets reducing maternal deaths by 25 per cent in three years.
The Rotary also officially handed over an electronic platform for maternal, perinatal and child deaths surveillance and response to the Federal Government.
The design of the electronic platform was funded by the German Government and implemented by the Rotary International.
The Rotary Regional Grants Officer, however, insisted that raising awareness to mothers during pregnancy and post pregnancy is crucial, because, according to her, it would increase immunization rate, increase confidence and use of primary health facilities by pregnant women and reduce the rate at which expectant mothers patronize traditional birth attendants.
“There will be awareness on breastfeeding and community dialogue at the grassroots level, in other to take breastfeeding more effective,” she stressed.
Speaking earlier, the National Coordinator of Rotary Action Group for Reproductive Maternal and Child Health, Mr. Emmanuel Adedolapo Lufadeju, noted that the initiative targets to reduce maternal deaths resulting from pregnancy and child birth complication by 25% in the benefiting states in the next 3 years.
The initiative, according to him, will escalated to all the states of the federation.
He stated that the programme is to assist the Federal Ministry of Health, maternal and child Audit data management which is integrated into the Nigeria health system.
“We are working with 7 local government and with 49 facilities mostly primary health care centers. Also to reach out to the grassroots in Nigeria, were 70% of maternal death occur essentially because women deliver at home most of the time, when they are suppose to use the facilities,” Lufadeju explained.
He, therefore, called on all state governments to include maternal and child health in the 2023/2024 budget.
He stressed that the federal government is creating conditions, guidelines to support the state and ensure that the policies and guidelines with respect to the reduction of maternal and child birth is implemented at all levels of government.
It would be recalled that during the handing over of the electronic platform and flagging-off of the 2 million dollar initiative in Abuja, on Tuesday, the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, said: “As we flag-off the new project today which aims to contribute to the reduction of maternal and new-born deaths due to pregnancy-related complications in the targeted states the Federal Ministry of Health recognizes and appreciates the efforts of Rotary International and indeed all our Development and Implementing Partners in their efforts to ensure that Nigerians receive quality health care services.”
