A non-governmental organisation (NGO), Maternal and Reproductive Health Research Collective (MRHRC), yesterday, expressed dismay over the high rate of maternal deaths in the country, estimated to be over 62,000 deaths yearly.

The founder of MRHRC, Prof. Abosede Afolabi, disclosed the organisation’s plan to embark on a month-long crusade tagged, ‘#WeMenForHer Movement,’ that encompasses a spectrum of activities designed to galvanise awareness and inspire solutions to Nigeria’s escalating maternal health crisis, which will commence in Lagos.

The founder, who is also a gynaecologist, made this known virtually yesterday, at a press briefing, which was held at the GRA, Ikeja, lamenting the high mortality recorded nationwide, concerning pregnant women, as a result of poor access to quality health services, especially in rural communities.

Afolabi noted that the movement’s core objectives is to champion the MamaBase project, a visionary intervention designed to safeguard and empower expectant mothers throughout their maternal journey.
He disclosed that “a dedicated corps of community health workers would be deployed to provide unwavering support to pregnant women within their communities, ensuring they receive essential antenatal care and give birth under the watchful eye of skilled healthcare providers.”

Afolabi said: “The scale of this endeavour is nothing, with plans to enroll an initial 5,000 women into the MamaBase Intervention. Remarkably, 250 expectant mothers have already found solace in this programme, and some have celebrated safe deliveries.

“The #WeMenForHer campaign sets its sights on a monumental goal, raising a formidable N100 million with each woman benefiting from a dedicated allocation of N20,000 for comprehensive maternal care.”