Mrs. Olajumoke Caxton-Martins, the Group Managing Director of Tolu Medical Centre in Lagos, emphasized the importance of ongoing sensitisation efforts to reduce maternal mortality, especially among pregnant women in underserved communities. Speaking during a maternal health outreach event celebrating the 37th anniversary of Tolu Medical Centre, Caxton-Martins highlighted the need for continuous education and empowerment of pregnant women to minimize deaths from pregnancy complications and reduce reliance on unskilled Traditional Birth Attendants (TBA).
Citing data from the World Health Organization (WHO), Caxton-Martins noted that Nigeria remains one of the countries with the highest maternal mortality rates globally, accounting for 12% of global maternal, stillbirth, and neonatal deaths. She pointed out that financial constraints and ignorance often lead many pregnant women to expose themselves to risks by depending on unskilled TBAs.
To combat this issue, Tolu Medical Centre conducts quarterly health sensitisation programs in the Ajegunle and Ojo communities, where their facilities are located. These programs engage with over 1,000 pregnant women annually, encouraging them to seek antenatal, delivery, and family planning services at health facilities rather than relying on TBAs. Caxton-Martins stressed that persistent health talks and advice have proven effective in encouraging women to embrace supervised medical care.
Dr. Abayomi Ayankoso, the Medical Director at Tolu Medical Centre in Ojo, also urged the Federal Government to stabilize the economy, noting that a robust, self-sustaining economy would positively impact citizens’ lives and the health sector.
The outreach event, attended by over 300 pregnant women, featured health talks, counselling, subsidised ultrasound, and antenatal services. One of the attendees, Mrs. Juliet Yakub, shared her experience of nearly losing her life and baby due to complications while patronising a traditional birth attendant. She urged other pregnant women to choose hospitals over TBAs for safer and more reliable care.
The initiative by Tolu Medical Centre underscores the critical role of sensitisation in improving maternal health outcomes and reducing maternal mortality in Nigeria.
