As part of its ongoing efforts to reduce maternal mortality, Lagos State Government has equipped 40 health care workers with advanced skills to manage childbirth complications during the critical third stage of labour.
The training, which focused on life-saving interventions, was organised in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Saving One Million Lives Programme for Results (SOMLPforR).
Held over three days in Ikeja, the training involved health care professionals from primary, secondary and tertiary health care facilities across the state.
The sessions combined theoretical lessons and practical demonstrations, aimed at strengthening participants’ ability to prevent and manage postpartum haemorrhage (excessive bleeding), a leading cause of maternal deaths in Nigeria.
Director of Family Health and Nutrition at the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Folasade Oludara, stressed the significance of the training in addressing gaps in knowledge and practice. “Postpartum haemorrhage remains a major contributor to maternal mortality, both globally and locally,” she said.
“This training provides health care workers with essential skills, including the use of uterotonic drugs such as oxytocin and misoprostol, to prevent excessive bleeding after childbirth.”
Read Also: FULL LIST: Notorious bandits leaders killed by Nigerian Military
Participants were also introduced to innovative technique like delayed cord clamping, which reduces the risk of neonatal anaemia, and the use of non-pneumatic anti-shock garments (NASG), a life-saving device for stabilising women suffering from severe haemorrhage.
“The NASG is crucial in emergency situations, especially in low-resource settings where access to blood products may be delayed.” Oludara added: “It buys time until definitive interventions such as blood transfusions can be administered.”
A renowned obstetrician and gynaecologist from Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Prof. Yusuf Oshodi, said targeting postpartum haemorrhage and hypertensive disorders during pregnancy could reduce maternal deaths by as much as 40 per cent.
“These are the two leading causes of maternal mortality in Nigeria. By training health care workers to effectively manage these conditions, we can reduce maternal deaths,” he said.
Reproductive Health Coordinator at the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Victoria Omoera, highlighted the need for continued investment in maternal health.
“Maternal deaths are preventable if the right steps are taken. Low-cost, high-impact interventions such as Active Management of the Third Stage of Labour (AMTSL) have proved effective in reducing maternal mortality by up to 60 per cent,” she said.
Omoera underscored the importance of scaling up capacity-building efforts.
She said between 2019 and 2020, Ministry of Health had trained 160 health care workers, resulting in slight reduction in maternal deaths.
She, however, said more things should be done to achieve progress.
“Our goal is to ensure every health care facility in Lagos is equipped and staffed with health care workers, who have the skills to manage complications and prevent maternal deaths,” she said.
Participants expressed their appreciation for the practical approach of the training, noting that the new skills would enable them to act promptly during emergencies and improve maternal outcomes in their facilities.
The initiative is part of Lagos State’s broader commitment to strengthening maternal and child health services, and with support from international partners such as UNFPA, the state continues to make strides in reducing maternal mortality.
