A Non-Governmental Organisation, Jhpiego Global, has partnered with the Ondo State Government to reduce maternal mortality and improve the health of mothers and newborns during and after childbirth.
The President and Chief Executive Officer of Jhpiego, Dr Allyson Bear, stated this in Akure on Wednesday at the end of a meeting on the Postpartum Haemorrhage project in Ondo State.
Bear said the organisation remained committed to promoting maternal survival across Africa through innovative interventions and partnerships with governments and other stakeholders.
She recalled that the project, which began in 2014 and was piloted in Ondo and Kebbi states, had demonstrated how Jhpiego could collaborate with state and national governments to improve healthcare delivery and advance maternal health.
“In this particular case, we’re talking about maternal survival. We are making sure that our women, that our mothers are able to have a healthy pregnancy, have a healthy child, and Jhpiego is very proud to be a part of that, to be able to bring innovative and new practices to places like Ondo State, to be able to support efforts to reduce maternal mortality and make sure women thrive,” Bean said.
Bear explained that the organisation had trained healthcare workers, ensured the availability of essential medicines and commodities in health facilities, and supported efforts to improve maternal healthcare services.
She added that Jhpiego had also renovated health facilities to provide safer and more conducive environments for women seeking care during pregnancy and childbirth.
According to her, the organisation will continue to work with governments and other stakeholders to ensure that no woman dies unnecessarily during childbirth.
The Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, represented by his Special Adviser on Health Matters, Prof Simidele Odimayo, described Jhpiego as a valuable partner in tackling postpartum haemorrhage through implementation research.
He noted that postpartum haemorrhage remained a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality in low-income countries.
Aiyedatiwa said the state government was committed to improving maternal health through its “OUR EASE” agenda, including strengthening the state’s health insurance scheme for both formal and informal sector workers.
He explained that indigent women were being enrolled in the state’s “Abiyamo” health insurance scheme at no cost to ensure financial constraints do not prevent them from accessing healthcare services.
“Dedicated phone numbers have been made available to the public to make calls and get help immediately to the nearest health facility.
“In combating the third delay, huge investments have been made in the health sector, as renovation and equipping of health facilities is currently ongoing while also recruiting different cadres of the health workforce,” he stated.
According to him, retired doctors and nurses have also been re-engaged to bridge gaps in human resources within the state’s healthcare system.
Postpartum haemorrhage, excessive bleeding after childbirth, remains one of the leading causes of maternal deaths globally, accounting for about 70,000 deaths annually, according to the World Health Organisation.