Thirty-four nurses and 700 pregnant women in Akwa Ibom State have been trained in health care delivery and supported in antenatal care respectively.
The nurses were drawn from 24 Primary Healthcare Centre (PHCs) in Nsit Atai, Mbo and Urue Offong/Oruko Local Government Areas.
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The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of TY Danjuma Foundation, Mr. Gima Forje, facilitators of the training, said the non-governmental organisation was in support of the reduction in maternal and newborn deaths in the state.
She explained that the group was worried about the high maternal mortality rate in Nigeria, which is about 512 per 100,000 live births and amongst the worst in the world.
Speaking at the end of its Healthy Mother Healthy Child Project and presentation of awards, on Thursday in Uyo, Forje stated that the foundation was committed to the cause of pregnant women and newborns.
She said that the project, which started in February 2020, has supported pregnant women for antenatal care visits to PHCs.
“TY Danjuma Foundation has contributed to the improvement of the health of pregnant women and newborns by supporting the training of 35 from 24 primary healthcare centres (PHCs) across three local government areas in the state.
“More than 700 pregnant women have been reached with support activities, which encouraged a minimum of four ante natal care visits by these women to PHCs across Nsit Atai, Mbo and Urue Offong/Oruko LGAs.
“Twenty-seven HIV positive pregnant women were encouraged to enroll for PMTCT services across the three LGAs.
“The Healthy Mother Healthy Child Project, which had the goal ‘to promote uptake of ANC and PMTCT services at 3 PHCs each in Nsit Atai, Mbo and Urue Offong/Oruko LGAs for improved Integrated Maternal Newborn and Child Health (IMNCH) in 11 months.’’
Some beneficiaries of the programmes, Mary Edet from Mbukpo Eyoakan in Urue Offong/ Oruko, and Gift Etukudo from Ikot Uyo in Nsit Atai Local Government Areas commended the foundation for the support.
They said that the foundation paid their antenatal care registration fees and also gave them mama kits containing towel, pampers, soap, and other accessories, saying it was encouraging.
They urged the NGO to continue with the good gesture.
