The HealthZone television program partnered with InStrat Global Health, HSCL, Mpowering Frontline Health Workers and the Ondo State Ministry of Health to host a Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (MNCH) outreach event in Ondo State. It held at the Comprehensive Primary Health Centre in Oke-Ijebu, Akure on November 7, 2016, to mark National MNCH week commemorated November 7 – 11, 2016.
The Ondo State Commissioner for health Dr. Dayo Adeyanju, Permanent Secretary Dr. Taye Oni, Special Adviser to the Governor on women affairs, Executive Secretary Ondo State Primary Health Care Development Board (OSPHCDB). Dr. Oshunmakinwa, directors from MOH and OSPHCDB, deputy directors, and health workers were in attendance. The target audience of more than 500 women and children participated enthusiastically in all the activities.
The current efforts the Ondo State Government is making to improve health literacy and reduce the mortality rate in women and children under the age of 5 were highlighted, particularly the ABIYE Safe Motherhood program. As part of the ABIYE strategy, the g15,000 deliveries, 2300 of these by caesarean section. Statistics also show a 44% increase in patient load and 14% decrease in maternal mortality rate compared to 2010 and 2011.
In Nigeria, about 145 women die and about 1000 babies are lost daily from complications during pregnancy, childbirth and the neonatal period. The majority, are stillborn or die within the first week of life from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. The partnership between these key organizations demonstrates the level of commitment to improving maternal health and increase childhood survival rate.
In a short class for the women and children, Dr. Banke Oluwafemi, Consultant Pediatrician at the Mother & Child Hospital, Akure, discussed the need to address the mother’s health before and during pregnancy through health education, proper nutrition, and antenatal care. Dr. Ejeheri A. Napoleon, Consultant Obstetrician Gynecologist, Primary Health Care Coordinator, Akure South local government shared simple, insightful take home points for the participants in English and Yoruba.
Using the Mpowering Frontline Health Workers training videos, which was funded by USAID, Mr. Abiola Oshunniyi demonstrated training of skilled health workers to address safety during labor and childbirth.
- Health education on HIV, Malaria, STIs and other opportunistic infections – prevention and maintenance.
- Increasing awareness on pregnancy care, infant and child feeding.
- On-site health screening for the women present.
More than 500 women were screened at the event. 50 women each for hepatitis B, syphilis, and random blood sugar. 100 women were screened for urinalysis and 173 women for malaria and HIV. Children were also immunized.
