7,883 pregnant women get maternal care in Lagos

A maternal health programme led by the Maternal and Reproductive Health Collective (MRHC) has provided antenatal and emergency care to 7,883 pregnant women across 12 local government areas in Lagos State, the organisation has said.

The initiative, known as MamaBase, was implemented between October 2023 and September 2024.

It aimed to improve maternal health outcomes in underserved communities by linking women to health facilities and providing access to essential services at no cost.

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At a press conference in Lagos, acting executive director of MRHC, Olajumoke Oke, said the programme recorded 7,467 safe deliveries and achieved a maternal mortality ratio (MMR) of 123 per 100,000 live births among beneficiaries — significantly lower than Nigeria’s national average of 1,047.

Oke said the programme was active in 12 local government areas, including Epe, Eti-Osa, Ibeju-Lekki, Alimosho, Ikorodu, Mushin, Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Ojo, Amuwo-Odofin, Kosofe, Agege, and Apapa.

“Eighty percent of the women enrolled accessed skilled care at health facilities,” she said.

“There was a 50 percent reduction in third-trimester pregnancy losses, while 144 high-risk women received emergency care, including support for cesarean sections. The programme also recorded a 99.9 per cent child survival rate.”

Oke said MamaBase demonstrates that targeted interventions can improve maternal outcomes, especially in resource-limited settings.

Olufunmilola Owosho, chief operating officer of MRHC, said the programme aimed to link at least 5,000 women to formal healthcare within a year and surpassed that goal. She identified key challenges encountered during implementation, including a lack of health insurance, absence of birth plans, and limited emergency transport options.

“Some cultural and social factors also prevent women from seeking care,” she said. “We are calling for more partnerships to expand this model to other high-risk areas.”

Oluwatosin Laleye, senior programme manager (research) at MRHC, said the organisation also engaged in training traditional birth attendants, conducting health education sessions, and sending out telehealth messages to increase awareness and improve outcomes.

MHRC also disclosed that the Phase2 of the project, which would be a more streamlined and efficient process would be extended to Kaduna State, targeting 10,000 pregnant women, adding that it would also focus on disadvantaged communities.

A representative of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Abimbola Mabogunje, commended the initiative and described it as a valuable contribution to improving maternal and reproductive health in the state.