Traditional birth attendants trained on emergency, safe motherhood

By **Taiwo Oluwadare, **Ibadan

The Martins Lydia Foundation has concluded a Crisis and Emergency Preparedness and Health Intervention Strategies Workshop for Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) in flood-affected communities of Ona-Ara Local Government Area, Oyo State.

The training, held recently focused on improving maternal and newborn healthcare through early identification of pregnancy risks, emergency preparedness, safe delivery practices and timely referral to health facilities.

The workshop brought together TBAs from 11 communities, including Elemu Gbaremu, Apara Ajia, Elebolo, Ogbere Idi Osan, Ifewumi, Idi Obi, Ajameta, Adabale, Akinpe, Olaba and Oremeji.

A matron, Mrs Olufunke Adebiyi explained that participants were taught how to assess pregnant women, identify high-risk pregnancies and recognise conditions requiring urgent medical attention.

She said the TBAs were also trained on delivery preparedness, emergency identification and appropriate referral procedures, particularly in underserved communities where access to healthcare facilities is limited.

Facilitators included medical professionals in emergency nursing, maternal and newborn health, and reproductive health, who provided practical instruction on comprehensive care for pregnant women from conception to delivery.

The training also featured a session on “Helping Babies Breathe” and essential newborn care, facilitated by Mrs Showemimo Hannah Oluyemisi, a registered community health practitioner, primary healthcare educator and former Traditional Birth Attendants Coordinator in Lagos State.

Oluyemisi explained that the session focused on helping TBAs identify newborns who fail to breathe or cry after delivery and provide immediate assistance before referral.

She said participants were taught how to use an Ambu bag to resuscitate babies who were not breathing properly, stressing the importance of early identification, prompt management and referral.

According to her, the TBAs were also trained on proper newborn care, including thorough drying of babies after birth, delaying the first bath until at least 24 hours, cord care and exclusive breastfeeding.

She discouraged the traditional practice of turning non-breathing babies upside down and beating them, saying the appropriate response is to dry and stimulate the baby, followed by resuscitation when necessary.

The facilitators emphasised that newborns who fail to respond to initial intervention must be referred promptly to a health facility for further care.

The training featured a question-and-answer session, allowing participants to engage the facilitators on challenges associated with maternal and newborn care in their communities.

The workshop concluded with the signing of a commitment banner by the TBAs, pledging that “no mother or child will die under their watch.”

The organisers said the intervention was designed to strengthen the capacity of birth attendants and contribute to reducing maternal and newborn mortality in vulnerable communities, especially those affected by flooding.

They stressed the need to make reproductive healthcare safe and accessible to all women, particularly those living in emergency and underserved settings.

The workshop was held under the theme: “Traditional Wisdom Plus Modern Care = Birth Justice.

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