Lagos govt hosts stakeholders meeting to address rising maternal, infant deaths

The Lagos State Government convened an important stakeholders meeting at the General Hospital in Badagry, uniting health professionals, traditional birth attendants, and community leaders to address the alarming increase in preventable deaths among mothers and newborns.

Organized by the Ministry of Health, the meeting followed a review of the 2024 report on maternal and perinatal fatalities, which identified Badagry as having the second highest rates in the state. This spurred urgent discussions on how to change this concerning trend.

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Dr. Oluseyi Adesola, the Medical Director of the hospital, informed attendees that the hospital’s data only reflected a small portion of the issue, emphasizing that many causes of these deaths lie outside of hospitals and require a collective community response.

He urged traditional birth attendants and community leaders present to collaborate more effectively with the hospital to improve the situation regarding maternal and infant deaths in Badagry.

Dr. Nurudeen Onaolapo, leading the Ministry of Health delegation, indicated that the purpose of their visit was to foster stronger partnerships among local stakeholders. He asserted that overcoming maternal and perinatal fatalities hinges on communities taking charge of the initiatives.

Apex Nurse Abosede Aina, representing the Medical Officer of Health for Badagry Local Government, cautioned traditional birth attendants to ensure thorough follow-up on women referred to hospitals for delivery. She pointed out that some women hesitate to accept referrals, often requesting primary health center staff to avoid hospital admission, which can exacerbate medical complications.

Dr. Akinwunmi Akinyemi, Director of Clinical Services and Training, shared concerning findings from monthly maternal and perinatal death reviews, noting that many women arrive at the hospital without proper antenatal care and in critical conditions that could have been prevented.

Dr. Enem Udoh, head of the Paediatrics Department, highlighted the challenges her team encounters, including the disturbing statistic that eight out of ten newborns admitted to the unit show severe asphyxiation. She criticized harmful practices, such as physically manipulating newborns to induce crying, which pose serious risks to their health.

Traditional birth attendant Mrs. Abosede Fasinu urged the collaboration of hospital and primary health center staff in monitoring women who arrive in critical condition to better understand the issues contributing to their complications.

By the end of the meeting, all participants committed to disseminating the information within their communities, emphasizing the importance of discouraging harmful traditional and religious practices while promoting timely and appropriate medical care for expectant mothers and their babies.