The Lagos State Government, through Health District III, has trained nurses, midwives and other primary healthcare workers on respectful maternity care, quality postnatal services and effective home visits as part of efforts to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes.
The training, held at Igbo-Efon Primary Health Centre, Ajah, brought together Apex Nurses, Officers-in-Charge and midwives from Ibeju-Lekki, Eti-Osa and Epe Local Government Areas.
Speaking at the training, Dr Monsurat Adeleke said the programme was designed to strengthen participants’ knowledge, skills and professional attitudes in delivering safe, respectful and evidence-based maternity and postnatal care.
She said the training focused on women’s rights, dignity and privacy, effective communication, compassionate care and the prevention of disrespectful practices, as well as maternal and newborn assessment, identification of danger signs, counselling, timely referrals and effective home visits.
Adeleke urged the participants to apply the knowledge gained in their respective facilities and share it with other health workers, stressing that the quality of healthcare should be assessed not only by clinical outcomes but also by the experience of women receiving care.
She said, “Our health workers need the skills, language and knowledge on how to treat our patients with dignity and respect; then we have more patronage at the facilities, and this would save more lives.”
The facilitator and Director of Nursing Services, Kosofe Local Government Area, Mrs Joseph Alaba, in her presentation titled “Quality Postnatal Care,” explained that postnatal care covers the period from childbirth through the first six weeks after delivery.
Alaba stressed the importance of assessing both mother and newborn, including their physical condition, emotional wellbeing and home environment. She also highlighted breastfeeding and proper nutrition, including monitoring the baby’s feeding pattern, positioning and breastfeeding technique.
One of the participants, an Apex Nurse from Eti-Osa Local Government Area, Nurse Bola Lawal, described the training as educational, noting that participants received guidance on breastfeeding, nutrition, hygiene, immunisation, cord care, thermal care, family planning and infection prevention and control.
Lawal called for the training to be extended to health workers across all primary healthcare facilities in the district to strengthen the delivery of quality maternal and newborn care.
