PROJECT GOALS:
1/ The project goal is to reduce maternal and infant mortality in Olokoro community through the
provision of clean delivery kits and Treated bed nets for delivery and infant care. 100 women (50
pregnant women and 50 nursing mothers of babies 0‐1 year) in Olokoro community will receive
delivery Kits containing essential items such as Sterilized Scalpel blades, sterilized hand gloves,
Sterilized absorbent delivery mats, cotton wool, methylated spirit. Project beneficiaries will also
receive treated bed nets to prevent malaria infection caused by mosquito bites. Due to the COVID19 pandemic, we will also be including antiseptic soaps in the kit.
2/ This project will provide health information and training for mothers. This involves sensitizing 100 pregnant women and mothers with new‐borns with important health information regarding
pregnancy, new‐born care, encouraging antenatal and post‐natal attendance, exclusive
breastfeeding, immunizations, and delivery in approved health centres. The importance of hygiene during and after delivery will also be emphasized. Sensitization will be conducted in the local language to ensure that it is properly understood by uneducated mothers. With the outbreak of the COVID‐19 pandemic, more emphasis will be placed on the importance of hygienic practices such as regular handwashing amongst others to keep mothers and babies safe.
PROJECT LOCATION:
Olokoro Community, Umuahia South Local Government Area , Abia State, Nigeria.
PROJECT PROGRESS:
The project successfully commenced on Saturday 21st November 2020. The kick-off of the project was delayed due to a Government lockdown imposed in the area. As at today, 65 women comprising 30 pregnant women and 35 nursing mothers have been successfully trained.
The training covered important health information regarding pregnancy, newborn care, antenatal and post‐natal attendance, exclusive breastfeeding, immunizations, delivery in approved health centers and family planning. In view of the COVID‐19 pandemic, the importance of hygiene and preventive measures such as regular handwashing was emphasized. The training was conducted in the local language to ensure it was understood by all. All 65 beneficiaries received delivery/child care kits containing important items for childbirth and infant care including Sterilized Scalpel blades, sterilized hand gloves, Sterilized absorbent delivery mats, cotton wool, methylated spirit. They also receive treated bed nets to prevent malaria infection caused by mosquito bites. Due to the COVID19 pandemic, antiseptic soaps were also included in the kit to encourage proper hygiene.
IMPACT ON PROJECT BENEFICIARIES AND COMMUNITY:
The project was well-received by beneficiaries and the community at large, who co‐operated to ensure its successful execution. They could not hide their excitement and joy as they received the training and kits. As a result of the project, the following is being achieved:
- Lifesaving health information provided to guarantee survival of mothers and their new borns.
Essential items provided to prevent infection during delivery. - Treated bed nets provided to protect against malaria a leading cause of maternal and infant mortality.
- Income savings for the affected households, as they no longer need to spend their meagre earnings on purchases of the items provided.
- Awareness in the community and among Local Government authorities on the importance of maternal and infant health initiatives to save lives of underserved women and babies.
Nnadozie Foundation is immensely grateful to the Kitchen Table Charities for their wonderful support for this important project. Many lives have been touched and many infants have been given a healthy start in life. The next round of training is slated for March 2021. We look forward to the successful completion of the project and hope to scale it to other underserved communities in Umuahia Abia State in the near future.
