The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Federal Government’s Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative by training traditional birth attendants to help reduce preventable deaths among mothers and newborns.
The commission made the commitment during a workshop for traditional birth attendants held in Delta and Bayelsa states, where participants were trained on safe maternal and newborn care.
This was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday in Port Harcourt by the NDDC Director of Corporate Affairs, Seledi Thompson-Wakama.
Speaking at the workshop, the Managing Director of the NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, urged women to combine traditional birth practices with orthodox medical care to improve maternal and child health outcomes.
Ogbuku, represented by the Principal Manager, Education, Health and Social Services, Mrs. Dare-Oloko Kuami, described the rate of maternal and child deaths as unacceptable and called for greater awareness to address the challenge.
He stated, “The rate of death in children and women is alarming and needs eradication. This training is meant to enlighten our women and should not be taken for granted.”
According to him, the workshop was designed to equip traditional birth attendants with the knowledge and skills required for safe maternal and newborn care, early detection of pregnancy-related complications, and prompt referral of high-risk cases to health facilities.
Also speaking, the Director of Education, Health and Social Services at the NDDC, Dr. Patience Ezugu, encouraged women to take childbirth issues seriously and acquire the necessary knowledge to support mothers in their communities.
Represented by the Principal Manager, EHSS, Dr. Otokolo Fidelis, Ezugu disclosed that more than 300 women from Delta and Bayelsa states participated in the programme and received medical equipment as well as cash support.
One of the resource persons, Mrs. Gift Akitiri, highlighted the important role traditional birth attendants play in rural communities, stressing the need for continuous capacity building.
She said, “Traditional birth attendants are trusted members of many communities, and by equipping them with updated knowledge, we are helping to ensure that mothers and newborns will receive timely, appropriate care and improve health outcomes.”
One of the participants, Mrs. Franscica Odiakosa, commended the commission for organising the training, saying it had improved her understanding of maternal healthcare and referral procedures.
She stated, “It is a very good thing that NDDC did; I have gained a lot of knowledge today that would enhance the quality of healthcare I will provide for the community, and I have also learnt to refer mothers to the health centres and hospitals when I cannot handle the situation.”
The workshop forms part of the NDDC’s efforts to strengthen maternal and child healthcare services in the Niger Delta through improved collaboration between traditional birth attendants and the formal healthcare system.
