In a bid to extend and promote Maternal and Child Health, the Rotary Club of Owerri Metropolitan embarked on Maternal and Child Health project at Nwaorubi Primary Health care Centre in Mbaitoli LGA of Imo State.
According to the Humanitarian organization, “Maternal Health refers to the health of women during pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period”.
“Each stage should be a positive experience, ensuring women and their babies reach their full potential for health and well-being”.
The group speaking through her President, Rtrn George Clifford stated that “though important progress has been made in the last two decades, about 295,000 women died during and following pregnancy and childbirth in 2017. This number is unacceptably high”.
According to him, “The most common direct causes of maternal injury and death are excessive blood loss, infection, high blood pressure, unsafe abortion, and obstructed labour, as well as indirect causes such as anemia, malaria, and heart disease.
Most maternal deaths are preventable with timely management by a skilled health professional working in a supportive environment”.
Ending preventable maternal death must remain at the top of the global agenda, and Rotary International has taken up the challenge by capturing Maternal and Child Health as one of its areas of Focus.
He disclosed that, “simply surviving pregnancy and childbirth can never be the marker of successful maternal health care therefore, It is critical to expand efforts in reducing maternal injury and disability to promote health and well-being.
He maintained that every pregnancy and birth is unique. Addressing inequalities that affect health outcomes, especially sexual and reproductive health and rights and gender, is fundamental to ensuring all women have access to respectful and high-quality maternity care.
The project had the theme “Optimizing Maternal and Child Health”, with a public lecture and Orientation on “Neonatal Jaundice” delivered by Rtn Lilian Chinasa Ezeuko, a Pediatrician and a member of Rotary Club of Owerri Metropolitan.
Earlier on, the Club President Rtn George Clifford further encouraged the women to always seek medical advice rather than self medication. He assured them that the Club will from time to time, will be providing them with basic routine drugs and Medical Orientation since there is no permanent resident Doctor attached to the Healthcare Centre.
Other highlights of the Project include Free Medical screening, de-worming of children, personal hygiene orientation, distribution of insecticide treated nets and administration of routine drugs and other essential drugs. The women were full of praises to the Club and her Leadership for their kind gesture.
