The Lagos State Ministry of Health, in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Saving One Million Lives Programme for Results (SOMLPforR), has trained 40 healthcare workers on active management of the third stage of labour.
This is part of an effort to reduce maternal mortality in the state.
The three-day training, held from September 11th to 13th at the LCCI Conference Centre in Alausa-Ikeja, focused on equipping participants with the necessary skills to handle childbirth complications, particularly postpartum haemorrhage, a leading cause of maternal deaths.
Healthcare workers from various levels of the healthcare system — primary, secondary, and tertiary — underwent hands-on sessions, including clinical demonstrations with mannequins, and training on the use of life-saving tools such as anti-shock garments and uterotonic drugs like oxytocin and misoprostol.
These drugs help the uterus contract after childbirth, reducing the risk of excessive bleeding.
The Director of Family Health and Nutrition, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr Folasade Oludara, highlighted the importance of this training, noting it bridges the knowledge gap for recruits and updates the skills of experienced staff.
She emphasized that postpartum haemorrhage accounts for a significant number of maternal deaths worldwide, and this initiative targets its prevention.
Additionally, the workshop introduced techniques like delayed cord clamping, which reduces the risk of neonatal anaemia, and the proper use of the partograph, a tool for monitoring labour progress and identifying potential complications.
Dr. Oludara also stressed the importance of healthcare workers’ interpersonal skills, with an emphasis on improving communication and empathy towards patients to ensure a positive birthing experience.
A facilitator from Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Professor Yusuf Oshodi explained that tackling postpartum haemorrhage and hypertensive disorders in pregnancy could cut maternal mortality by 40%.
He underlined that these conditions have long been key contributors to maternal deaths in Nigeria.
The Director and Reproductive Health Coordinator at the Lagos State Ministry of Health. Victoria Omoera, presented a proposal on strengthening maternal care.
She advocated for the adoption of high-impact interventions such as Active Management of the Third Stage of Labour (AMTSL) and low-cost tools like non-pneumatic anti-shock garments, which can significantly reduce mortality rates.
The participants lauded the training’s practical approach, with Dr. Fakoya Elijah from General Hospital Agbowa describing it as “impactful” and Edna Adinkuye, a nurse from General Hospital Ajeromi, expressing her newfound confidence in using tools like the partograph.
