Bridge House Students Take Up Maternal Health Support Charity Project
Few weeks to graduation, some Bridge House College students visited a couple of government hospitals in Obalende area Ikoyi-Obalende Local Government Area to offer support for indigent patients. The initiative which focused on improving maternal health among low-income earners in the area was lead by Ms Maryam Aremu, Communication Skills Lecturer, BHC. The volunteer students first attended Antenatal Programmes and interacted with the expectant mothers who shared their stories and dire needs. The women were sensitized about the need for Antenatal care, the dangers of self-medication and patronizing unlicensed local midwives.
According to Ms Aremu, a colossal number of expectant mothers in the Obalende area covered by the team are still ignorant of the dangers of self-medication and patronizing unlicensed midwives. Many, out of ignorance are continuously exposed to a high risk of maternal mortality and various diseases.
She said according to the joint report by World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) and World Bank released in 2017, Nigeria recorded a total of 58,000 maternal death in 2015 alone. ‘This is worrying’ she said. These death cases can be avoided and should be.
She added, ‘Government should do more in sensitizing them on the need to avoid self-medication and patronage of unlicensed midwives as well as bring the cost of child delivery in government hospitals to the barest minimum while operating at acceptable international standards. In fact, it should be free!’
A fundraiser campaign amongst Bridge House Students was initiated after the visits which provided Ante Natal kits for 40 expectant mothers in their 9th month at the hospitals visited. One of the beneficiaries in awe said: ‘Bridge House is giving me what I need at exactly when I needed it, God will meet you all at your points of need too.’
‘The Voice of the needy is ringing loud, the culture of giving back should be taught in and outside the four walls of classrooms from preschool to university. We must all listen to it and help swiftly’, Ms Aremu added in an interview.
Below are some pictures from the project:
