Groups sensitize pregnant women on antenatal care in A‘Ibom

Concerned about the high rate of maternal and newborn mortality rate in the country, T Y Danjuma Foundation in partnership with Antof Rural Resource Development Centre (ARRDC) has commenced sensitization and support for pregnant women for antenatal care in Akwa Ibom state.

T Y Dajuma Foundation through its Healthy Mother, Healthy Child Project says “it is determine to contribute to the reduction of maternal and newborn mortality in the country”

The foundation express worry that the Fifth Multiple Indicators Cluster Survey (MICS-5) conducted in Nigeria in 2016/2017, shows a newborn mortality rate of 37 deaths per 1000 births and an under-five mortality rate of 120 deaths per 1000 births1.

The foundation recalled that in 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) identified Nigeria as having the world’s fourth highest maternal mortality rate.

“Studies show that morbidity and mortality of pregnant women who attend Antenatal Care (ANC) is reduced compared to women who do not attend Antenatal Care (ANC).

“Premised on this, the foundation is enlightening pregnant women on the many benefits of Antenatal Care (ANC) and encouraging the pregnant women to access ANC at health care facilities is the major activity under the Healthy Mother, Healthy Child Project.”

The Health Talk also further enlightened the women folks on other health promotion practices such as Immunization and Family Planning/Child Spacing.

The Executive Director of Antof Rural Resource Development Centre (ARRDEC), Revd Okon Ekerendu, who spoke  at the event, said the Healthy Mother, Healthy Child Project aims at ensuring that  at least 500 pregnant women across Oron, Okobo and Udung Uko Local Government Areas are captured.

The Healthy Mother, Healthy Child Project attended to more than 500 pregnant women across Oron, Okobo and Udung Uko Local Government Areas of the state, conducted  in four ANC sessions while also ensuring those pregnant women who tested positive for HIV are enrolled for Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) services.

Leave a Reply