In a bid to crash down the rate of child mortality in Ogun, the state government through its Hospital Management Board has began training programmes for obstetricians, pediatricians, nurses and midwives on comprehensive obstetrics and essential newborn care.
Speaking on the purpose of the training at the NHIS Hall, State Hospital, Ijaiye, Director of Health Services, Hospitals Management Board, Dr Ismaila Afolabi, said the purpose was to improve the neonatal care being provided by medical personnel in all the State’s health facilities starting with the Primary Health facilities and now, the secondary health facilities.
He noted that the training which would go round the five health zones starting from middle December, would combine obstetric emergency with the hope that maternal and new born mortality and its associated complications will be drastically reduced, if not eradicated.
“We want all our health care personnel that comprised the Doctors, Nurses and Midwives to be able to take good care of our newborns during delivery and to be able to address any complication even after the delivery”, Dr Afolabi said.
On her part, the course leader, an expert Pediatrician from Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Abeokuta, Dr Olabisi Dedeke alongside five other pediatricians, while explaining during a practical session, said the acceptable medical standards for immediate care after birth was to ensure that the baby’s airway is clear, provided warmth and stimulated to breathe.
According to her, when a baby is not breathing, he or she should be ventilated and nursed beside the mother for the first one hour of birth.
Putting the participants through several practical sections, the team of pediatricians reeled out several essential care expected to be given to the newborn from birth, until the mother is discharged.
The training which had 25 doctors, nurses and midwives from secondary health facilities across the state is expected to be scaled down to other medical personnel in their facilities.
Also, a pediatrician from State Hospital, Ijebu Ode, Dr Emmanuel Alaba and Nurse Abosede Odewole from General Hospital, Iperu, disclosed that they learnt appropriate positioning to apply when newborn babies need resuscitation and urgent attention, while appreciating Governor Abiodun for approving training and retraining for medical personnel.