Persistent maternal deaths can be prevented through urgent and timely medical intervention, enlightment programmes and public health extension services, Maternal and Reproductive Health (MRH) experts said on Wednesday.
The experts, Dr. Chiamaka Uwalaka and Mrs. Funmi Owoso, Programme Officer, extended the boundary of enlightment at the “2025 Iyaloju Participatory Forum” held at the College of Medicine, Idi-Araba, Surulere.
According to them, the awful statistics on reccurent death of women during pregnancy, labour and delivery are embarassing.
At the forum were health workers, community leaders and reprsentatives of groups and ibstitutions collaborating with the ‘MRH Collective.”
Established in 2007 in Lagos by Prof. Bosede Afolabi, MRH aims at reducing maternal mortality and improving reproductive health.
Currently, it focuses on pregnant women in 12 local councils, including Mushin, Oshodi, Itire-Ikate, Iba and Somolu.
At the forum, the “Iyaloju Project” and “Mama Base Programme”were reviewed and feedbacks collated on the effectiveness of the intervention.
Participants raised cogent questions which elicited professional responses and there were breakout sessions on the various challenges targetted by MRH.
Repesentatives from Safe Motherhood Initiative, Directorae of Medical Services and Disease Control and a heslth educator, Mrs. Sanmi Afolabi, also robbed minds with the participants.
Lamenting the high maternal mortality rate in the country, Owoso attributed it to financial barriers, socio-cultural vales and activities of unlicensed birth attendant centres.
She said pregnant women should be informed about where they can seek assistance for quality care safe delivery.
Osowo said MRH outeaches have been sustained to combat ignorance among women and doctors are being trained to properly handle emergencies.
She hail the success of the ‘Mama Base’ initiative, which focusses on vulnerable pregnant women who live alone without help.
The programme officer said MRH works with low income families to achieve safe delivery when they register with government health centres.
Owoso said: “In 2023, about 8 000 pregnant women were registered and 80 per cent delivered at the government-registered health centres. They also attended anti-natals. 99. 5 percent of the pregnant women delivered safely.
“We are now focusing on 12 local councils and our officers are looking for vulnerable pregnant women for registration. It is improper for women to die because they cannot afford less than N28,000 to take care of themselves.”
Owoso spoke on mapping of areas of concentration, identification of targetted beneficiaries and linkages with government hospitals, where the cost of borne by the organisation.
She also said the organisations has intensified its enlightment on living and nutrition in pregnancy, adding that follow-up is done by community extension workers.
Urging pregnant women to embrace ‘Mama Base,’ Owoso added, “Mama Base tackles the probems of emergency. The goal is to arrange transportation for them to the hospitals. We also offer referral and advocacy programmes.”
