By Anang Bako
Kaduna (Nigeria) – Kaduna State, Northwest Nigeria has trained 900 traditional birth attendants to boost strength of health workers in reducing the high burden of maternal deaths in the state.
Health Education Officer, State Primary Healthcare Agency, Hamza Ikara said the traditional birth attendants were trained in three phases comprising 300 in each batch.
“We conducted free training in three different phases where we select nine LGAs at a time and all the wards will be involved so as to reduce maternal mortality rate in the state.
He said training for the next two batches of 600 traditional birth attendants from 14 local government areas were conducted in Zaria and Kafanchan and were just concluded.
“Kaduna is one of the states with increasing rate of maternal mortality and we want to stem the tide.” He said.
According to him, the participants were trained on the use of modern delivery kits and skills to encourage pregnant mothers to attend antenatal clinics.
He noted that improving the capacity of the traditional birth attendants would “reduce the tally of death of women during child delivery, particularly in the rural areas.”
Ikara pointed out that the training would also prepare women to embrace routine immunization and encourage personal hygiene.
He added that the traditional birth attendants were well kitted after the training.
The Official therefore urged pregnant women to always attend antenatal clinics to ensure safe delivery and safeguard their health and that of the child.
