Giwa-Osagie, Salako, others endorse books to reduce maternal mortality

As part of efforts to improve pregnancy outcomes and reduce maternal mortality, Emeritus Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Osato Giwa-Osagie, Director General, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Prof. Babatunde Salako, and Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist and Medical Arbitrator, Dr. Gregory Ohihoin, have endorsed four books.

The books are: Step by step approach to obstetrics and gynaecological ultrasonography; Bullet point answers to exam questions in obstetrics; Bullet point answers to exam questions in gynaecology; and What mama didn’t tell you about pregnancy-the myth, the truth and the lie.

According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Nigeria loses about 145 women of childbearing age daily, making her the second largest contributor to the maternal mortality rate in the world.

Giwa-Osagie who is also the joint pioneer of In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF)/Test Tube Bbay in Nigeria, at the launch the four books authored by Dr. Gregory Ohihoin, said to fortify Nigeria’s failing health sector and reduce maternal mortality the medical post graduate training in obstetrics and gynaecology, which is hinged on sustaining quality and excellence, would not compromise the standards.

The Emeritus Professor added that the examining body would not be sympathetic if anyone fails because resident doctors must prove that they deserve the best grades.

On the relevance of the ‘Bullet point questions and answer to exam questions in gynaecology and obstetrics’, Giwa-Osagie said it would help students focus on relevant aspects and make them pass easily.

“We won’t give result to anyone who doesn’t deserve it, so all resident post graduate doctors have to prepare adequately by consulting significant materials,” he said.

He congratulated Dr. Ohihoin and advised him to remain focus, adding that he deserve a price for churning four books at a time.

While calling on obstetrics and gynaecologists to embrace best practicses, Giwa-Osagie said they should keep adding values and advance in their profession.

In his words: “Do not be static in your career, and be not afraid of competition. Competitions are like challenges that help you forge ahead in this profession. Opportunities come when you least expect and might catch you unawares if you are not ready for it.”

Salako said the books were published in an attempt to reduce the maternal mortality rate and improve pregnancy outcome in Nigeria.

Salako added that the books came as a timely intervention to assuage the state of pregnant women’s health in the country because essential information and interventions reaching women and babies on time would avert maternal deaths.

The Director General, who lauded Dr. Ohihoin’s contribution to the body of knowledge, said the institute is proud as the books were written by one of our researchers.

“This is another form of research because it takes an in-depth study to gain the knowledge required, which would not only add to the body of knowledge but also improve health indices of Nigeria,” he added.

Salako noted that the books coming out of the institute are contributions to the Nigeria health system and in extension it would help obstetricians, resident doctors and women if well circulated and utilise.

He noted that the ‘Step by Step approach to Obstetric and gynaecological ultrasonography’ has direct impact, provides relevant information for women on how to behave in pregnancy, which would assist in safe delivery, improve pregnancy outcome and reduce maternal mortality rate.

Salako said ultrasonography is indispensable to effective practice of obstetrics and gynaecology but unfortunately not an integral aspect of residency training in Nigeria, although the residents are expected to undergo postings in radiology department.

“The author wrote this book to proffer a formal guide to the development of skills in obstetric and gynaecological ultrasonography by simplifying the steps involved in the conduct of this procedure by use of easy to understand explanations and illustrations depicting normal and abnormal findings from ultrasound images in obstetrics and gynaecology,” he added.

He noted that post-graduate exams during the residency programme are usually challenging, even for a prepared and outstanding candidate, and requires the resident to gulp and retain a huge volume of information within a limited period of time.

The Professor said that the ‘Bullet point answers to exam questions in obstetrics and gynaecology’ is provides prototype answers to sample post-graduate questions in the field of obstetrics and gynaecology.

On the relevance of the book to residents, he added that the book would improve the examination pass rate in post-graduate examinations in the field of obstetrics and gynaecology.

Reviewing the fourth book, ‘What mama didn’t tell you about pregnancy- the myths, the truths and the lies,’ Salako said it gives information related to pregnant women’s health.

In his words: “The new challenge with information flow is that a good proportion of information available to pregnant women are not authentic. Some of the items of information obtained from the free web are not reliable while some others are just “old wives tales”.

“This is a book that should be in the hands of not just pregnant women but any individual who is a woman or with a woman in his life.”

Ohihoin said the inspiration came from the drive to close the knowledge gap in obstetrics and gynaecology.

He said his years in practice has exposed him to challenges that women faces in the course of pregnancy and discovered that giving them the right information would help save many lives.

Ohihoin, who appreciate his wife and family for their supportive effort said the book was written in different part of the country, especially when he went on medical mission to the Northern part.

This, he added makes the books heterogenous for every Nigerian to relate with.

The author, who is also the founder of Nigeria’s first online maternity, pregnancynigeria.com said it is dedicated wholly to public service and gives necessary information to the pregnant woman.

He noted that pre-eclampsia, a pregnancy complication characterised by high blood pressure and signs of damage to another organ system, often the kidney as the major cause of high maternal mortality and that women should report to their doctors once any of the signs is noticed.

Calling on husbands to support their wives, Ohihoin said that this is necessary because of the psychological and hormonal change that the woman is going through.

He advised women to maintain cordial relationship with their doctor and do some research to know how to monitor their baby.