Medical practitioners at Omotayo Maternity Home (OMH) in Oke-Ado, Ibadan, Oyo State have embarked on a street sensitization on the war against the high rate of maternal mortality.
The awareness rally tagged: ‘Maternal and Child Health Walk’, was the brainchild of the Omotayo Charity Foundation led by a Nigerian and London-trained Nurse, Mrs. Olapeju Agunbiade (nee Kayode-Adedeji).
Agunbiade, who is the founder of the charity foundation led other members of staff of the health institution on the walk around major streets of the town, including Oke-Ado, Oke-Bola, Ogunpa, Agbeni, Beere, and Molete among others.
They were seen with various placards with inscriptions such as ‘No Woman Should Die Whilst Bringing Life into the World’, ‘Every day, 830 Women Die of Pregnancy-Related Causes in the World’, and ‘145 of these deaths occur in Nigeria’.
Other placards say, ‘Only 20% of Health Facilities offer Emergency Obstetric Care’, ’Only 35% of Deliveries are Attended by Skilled Births Attendants’, ‘Nigeria is Ranked among countries with worst World Maternal Mortality Rate’, and ‘We Can’t Watch Pregnant Women Die’, among others.
Agunbiade stressed the importance of reducing the rate of maternal mortality in Nigeria, maintaining that no woman should die while bringing life to the world.
The Consultant Midwife and Fertility Consultant explained that she took the decision for the rally, following inspiration on the need for reawakening and increased awareness based on the new knowledge she had gathered through reading and researching over the past years.
The Ijesa-born activist Nurse expressed concern over the high rate of deaths being recorded among pregnant women. She also stressed the importance of providing adequate antenatal care, while observing that financial constraint has been a major factor.
“The project initially was named: Free Antenatal Care and Free Delivery, and that has been going on for two years but now we’ve changed the slogan to ‘Reducing Maternal Mortality Rate in Nigeria’, No Woman Should Die while Bringing Life to This World’, which is what the project is all about,” she said.
Agunbiade disclosed that she was motivated to embark on the project when she relocated to Nigeria and discovered the alarming rate of maternal mortality in the country, and thereafter conducted some investigations, hence, her resolve to make a difference and do something about reducing the mortality rate in Nigeria.
She added, “So, just before my 50th birthday, I told myself that instead of having a very big party I can raise funds with my friends and put the money together and start providing free antenatal care and free delivery and that was how it started.
“It’s been great, it’s been good, extremely challenging as well but the joy that I derive from doing the project and the support I get from friends, family, and my wonderful donors keeps me going.”
She identified challenges facing the project which included the reluctance of some women to come to the hospital, as well as no preparation on their part ahead of delivery in providing basic amenities, lack of family planning knowledge, and the government’s nonchalance towards healthcare
“I’ve tried to reach out to the government, but you know in Nigeria you’ve got to give tips and I’ve promised myself that I’m not going to do that because I want to have access to someone. I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing, so I don’t get distracted. Why would I tip my way through to seeing someone when I’m, actually, helping the government? Delivery in government hospitals is not free.”
The Consultant pointed out that people tend not to value and appreciate the things they get for free and try to abuse the opportunity, consequently preventing those who are genuinely in need from getting help.
Agunbiade explained that to prevent such, the hospital management came up with a policy that henceforth, any woman who comes with a fourth pregnancy and second free delivery would pay.
The beneficiaries of the foundation’s gestures expressed appreciation to the management of Omotayo Maternity Home, admitting that the health institution has continued to bring smiles to their faces.
Dasola Noah, a beneficiary, recalled that she was at the maternity home to visit a patient, and she was impressed with the public relations of the management toward patients and their families. Thereafter, she decided she would have her baby at the hospital if she gets pregnant, not knowing she was already pregnant.
“The nurses are kind to us and treat us well. Omotayo (Mrs. Agunbiade) herself was very good to me. Even though she was not around, she spoke to me on the phone and encouraged me. I had a cesarean section, but we were asked to go without paying the N250,000 bill,” she said.
Another beneficiary, Stella Akinola who had a set of twins at the hospital, said that the hospital authorities were very accommodating and caring, and cared for her throughout her admission at the hospital till she gave birth to her babies.
“She (Agunbiade) has been very kind to me since the first day that I came to the hospital. She has been like a mother to me. She asked me to move into the hospital and was taking care of me till the time I gave birth because my pregnancy was at risk. She was the one that paid for my surgery,” Akiola said.
Meanwhile, two of the staff nurses of the hospital, Oluwatoyin Oluwatayo and Zainab Olatunde, in an interview affirmed that they have no regret being a staff of the maternity home, adding that they have equally gained some experiences including being friendly, accommodating and showing concern to patients at all times.
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