By Israel Adamu, Jos
The Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria, Plateau state branch has advocate for better emergency obstetric services for women in the state.
They made this known on the occasional of the World Emergency Medicine Day celebration.
Our correspondent reports that emergency obstetric care refers to the care provided to save the lives of mothers experiencing complications during pregnancy, childbirth, or the postpartum period.
It involves a range of lifesaving interventions, including antibiotics, IV fluids and assisted deliveries.
This is a crucial part of maternal health, aiming to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity.
The State president of the Association, Dr Nana Awaya Emeribe made this plea during a gathering of stakeholders at the Plateau state Drugs and Medical Commodities Management Agency in Jos to commemorate the day.
She stated that obstetric emergencies can be managed effectively if detected early and if the right personnel with the right skill are present.
She commended the effort of the Plateau state government in ensuring more skilled birth attendants are employed, trained and deployed to facilities all over the 17 LGAs in the state especially the rural areas.
The Director General of the Plateau state Drugs and Medical Commodities Management Agency; Pharm Jerry Kim Bot, commended the Medical Women for relentlessly advocating for better maternal and child health in Plateau State.
He said the State government is on its toes to ensure a reduction in maternal mortality.
He said the “Mama Kit” is one of the innovations of the current administration to facilitate safer deliveries.
The DG took the Medical Women on a facility tour to see the activities going on with regards to commodity and drug management in the state.
At the end of the Tour, the state President requested that the “calibrated drapes” should be included as part of the mama kit since it is already available in the warehouse of the agency.
The calibrated drape is an evidence-based and cost-effective device that is useful in the early detection of postpartum Haemorrhage (PPH); which refers to blood loss of between 500mls- 1000mls from a woman within 24 hours of birth, in the absence of prompt and adequate intervention, this can lead to loss of lives.
PPH has been found to be the commonest cause of maternal death, yet it is preventable if detected early.
The Commissioner for Health in Plateau Dr Nicholas Baamlong in his remark said the state government is making effort to increase the number of women who deliver in health facilities across the state, because a wide disparity has been observed between ante natal registration, attendance and hospital deliveries.
He stated that Mama Kit will be an incentive to the women.
” In addition, for emergency obstetric care to the effective these women need to deliver in health facilities where the skilled birth attendants can monitor them. “
