By Aderogba George
The Women Network for Development (WONDEV), an NGO, has educated no fewer than 130 pregnant women and lactating mothers on basic prenatal and postnatal care.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that WONDEV, in collaboration with SAM Empowerment Foundation (SEF), carried out the exercise on Sunday in Kpaduma 2 community of Gusape District, FCT.
The exercise doubles as medical outreach–the women were gifted medical essentials, mini birthing kits and grain hampers–to improve their health and that of their babies.
Mrs Grace Niniola, the National Project Director, (WONDEV), said that the exercise was done under the project “Ciyar da Farko”, which entailed pre and post natal care for women in Hausa Language.
According to her, WONDEV has been in existence for about two decades, doing programmes on women and children empowerment, education, technology drives and behavioral advocacies in Kaduna, Benue, Kogi and Plateau States.
She said that her NGO saw the need to organise the exercise for the women especially with the economic hardship, high cost of medications as well as the ongoing strike by FCT Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs).
She reiterated WONDEV’s interest in empowering women, saying that it was not just a goal, but a necessity that must be accomplished.
“For a while now, we have noticed that the PHCs are doing so-much as the first tier level community healthcare provider; however, they have been on strike.
“When you empower women, you have strengthened families, uplift communities, and build stronger nations; this is more critical in the lives of pregnant and lactating mothers, who hold in their hands the future of our country literally and figuratively.
“We at WONDEV, we understand the pain, anxiety, stress and the inability to access healthcare could cause in pregnancy; hence, the inspiration to fill the gaps as little as we can.
“So, Ciyar De Farko is a project we have put together for women in the Kpaduma Community, providing them with basic prenatal and postnatal care, and medications as the case maybe,” she said.
Mr Idoko Silas, Programme Assistant for WONDEV, commended the turnout of the women for the programme, saying that it was so impressive and that the NGO was able to achieve its target.
He said that crowd at the medical outreach exceeded the plan of the NGO; hence, it was able to do another quick plan to ensure everyone were carried along for the exercise.
Silas said that lectures on fitness, mental health and stress management, nutrition and meal planning were given to pregnant women and lactating mothers, as well as test on malaria, hepatitis, vital signs collection and others.
Mr Okechukwu Chibueze, the Programme Manager, SEF, said that the organisation was joining the medical outreach to use the avenue to commemorate the April 25 World Malaria Day (WMD).
He said that malaria was a sickness that was predominant in Africa and Nigeria in particular.
According to her, it is something that disturbs both the pregnant women and lactating mothers, and even the infant.
Mrs Ruth Rebecca, a lactating mother who is a beneficiary of the programme, thanked the NGO, saying that she was extremely happy that fellow women came to encourage them.
Another lactating mother, Binta Ishaku, also appreciated the NGO, saying that God would continue to help them and replenish the pocket of the members especially for the treatments, drugs and other gifts given to her and her baby for free.
Ruth Ikemu, a pregnant woman, equally appreciated the people about the birthing kit gift she received.
NAN reports that mosquito nets, sanitary pads, disinfectants, detergents, spirits, among others were given to each pregnant woman
Lactating mothers were also given mosquito nets, packs of diapers, two bowls of Guinea corn each, soya beans, millet and maize. (NAN)