Rotary Club of Warri, has concluded a 2-day training for Traditional Birth Attendants, TBAs, aimed at preventing maternal and newborn deaths in Warri South Local Government Area.
The training, which was held at Saint George’s Hall in Warri, had in attendance 34 Traditional Birth Attendants
TBAs .
The 2-day training in partnership with the warri South local Government council, primary health centers in warri South,Dr Amina Momudu of Central Hospital Warri ended with a call on the traditional birth attendants to always refer their patients to the hospitals and healthcare centers especially when there are complications.
President of Rotary club of warri Rotarian Wardah Marshall stated that the training Programme aligns with one of Rotary international seven areas of focus which is maternal and child health care.
The president said 34 TBA were trained on how to fill referral forms and support mothers in labour .
She added that the club will monitor the TBA progress in ensuring that the numbers of referrals have increased before reviewing the programme .
She added that Rotary’s target is to reduce the rate of maternal mortality
Speaking during the training programme Dr. Amina Momudu of Central hospital warri one of the partners of the training programme said the World Health Organization recognizes the role of TBAs in communities and is focused on reassigning their role from delivery to referral and supportive roles for women in labour to general hospitals and health centers inorder to reduce maternal mortality.
She thanked the Rotary club for donating referral kits to the TBA’s.
The various matrons from the 17 health care centers in warri South including , Mrs Evelyn Egbejule, Mrs Omawumi Esoko,Mrs. Flora Imhanlahimi urged TBAs to always refer cases beyond their capacity, especially abnormal deliveries, to qualified health facilities to avoid complications.
The nurses also advised TBAs to encourage pregnant women to check their HIV status in order to prevent mother-to-child transmission of the virus, which could subject the child to a lifetime of HIV treatment.
Supervisor for health warri South local Government council,Hon Ese Deduwa commended Rotary club of warri for organizing the training.
He said the warri South council will continue to support such an initiative as it has to do with life saving, stressing that warri council chairman Comrade weyinmi Agbateyiniro takes health issues seriously and has done a lot to improve health centers in warri .
Hon Deduwa urged them to practice what they have learnt to improve their services .
One of the traditional birth attendants, matron in charge of Eboh health center Mrs Doris agbabi ,WDC representative Hon Lucky Ibiri thanked Rotary club of warri and it’s partners for organizing the training.
The Participants at the meeting expressed appreciation for the training, noting that it would help improve maternal and child healthcare practices in the community.
The various topics for training included recognizing danger signs early,promote healthy pregnancy,proper record keeping and follow up delivery, essential new born care amongst others to save pregnant women and their babies.
