Lagos moves to check maternal mortality from third stage of Labour

In a continued effort to combat maternal mortality, the Lagos State Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Saving One Million Lives Programme for Results (SOMLPforR), organised a three-day training for healthcare workers on the active management of the third stage of labour.

The training sought to equip healthcare workers with the necessary skills to manage childbirth and postpartum complications, with a particular focus on preventing excessive bleeding, which remains a leading cause of maternal deaths in Nigeria.

According to a statement on Sunday, the training, which brought together about 40 healthcare workers from primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare facilities, was a blend of theoretical and practical sessions. Participants were exposed to clinical demonstrations using mannequins and hands-on practice with anti-shock garments and uterotonic drugs. The training is part of a larger initiative to strengthen maternal and child health services in Lagos State.

Speaking on the importance of the training, the Director of Family Health and Nutrition at the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Folasade Oludara, noted that the training aimed to bridge the knowledge gap among newly recruited healthcare workers and update the skills of existing staff.

According to her, the training addressed one of the primary causes of maternal mortality—postpartum haemorrhage, or excessive bleeding after delivery. “This training is critical for reducing maternal mortality in the state. It will equip our healthcare workers with the skills to manage postpartum haemorrhage effectively and ensure safe delivery,” Oludara said.

She explained that postpartum haemorrhage is responsible for a significant portion of maternal deaths, both globally and in Nigeria, adding that the training focused on teaching participants the proper use of uterotonic drugs such as oxytocin and misoprostol, which help the uterus contract after childbirth to prevent excessive bleeding.

Oludara noted that these devices are crucial in emergency situations, particularly in low-resource settings where access to blood and blood products might be delayed. “The anti-shock garment buys time for women until blood transfusions or other definitive interventions can be arranged,” she explained.

One of the facilitators at the training, Professor Yusuf Oshodi, a renowned obstetrician and gynaecologist from the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), said that the training was designed to reduce Nigeria’s high maternal mortality rate, which has remained unchanged for decades. He noted that excessive bleeding and hypertensive disorders in pregnancy are the two leading causes of maternal deaths, and addressing these issues could reduce maternal mortality by 40%. “Our goal is to face these two monsters—postpartum haemorrhage and hypertensive disorders in pregnancy—which account for a large portion of maternal deaths,” Oshodi stated.

During the event, the Director and Reproductive Health Coordinator of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Victoria Omoera, delivered a comprehensive presentation titled “Proposal to Improve Maternal Care, Reduce Maternal Mortality, and Strengthen Systems for Safer Childbirth.” In her address, Omoera highlighted the need for improved maternal healthcare services in low-resource settings like Lagos, where healthcare workers often lack the tools, capacity, and training needed to provide high-quality services.

She identified the main causes of these deaths as obstetric haemorrhage, hypertensive disorders, unsafe abortions, obstructed labour, and infections, noting that two-thirds of these cases involve women with no identifiable risk factors. “These deaths are preventable if we take the right steps,” she stated, urging for increased investment in maternal health interventions.

Participants expressed their appreciation for the training, noting its practical approach and potential to save lives. Dr. Fakoya Elijah, a medical doctor from General Hospital Agbowa, described the training as “impactful” and stressed the importance of continuous learning for healthcare professionals. “This training has equipped us with new knowledge that will help us act promptly when emergencies arise. It will make a difference in our ability to save lives,” Fakoya remarked.