The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has intensified efforts to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality in the region by training traditional birth attendants on safe delivery practices and improved maternal and newborn care.
The intervention, carried out through workshops in Delta and Bayelsa states, forms part of the commission’s support for the Federal Government’s Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative aimed at curbing preventable deaths among mothers and infants.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday in Port Harcourt by the NDDC Director of Corporate Affairs, Seledi Thompson-Wakama.
Addressing participants at the training, the Managing Director of the NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, urged women to complement traditional childbirth practices with modern medical care to improve health outcomes for mothers and babies.
Represented by the Principal Manager, Education, Health and Social Services, Mrs. Dare-Oloko Kuami, Ogbuku described the rising cases of maternal and child deaths as a major concern, stressing that the trend must be reversed through education and improved healthcare practices.
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“The rate of death in children and women is alarming and needs eradication. This training is meant to enlighten our women and should not be taken for granted,” he said.
He explained that the programme was designed to strengthen the capacity of traditional birth attendants by equipping them with practical knowledge on safe maternal and newborn care, recognising danger signs during pregnancy, and referring complicated cases promptly to health facilities.
Also speaking, the Director of Education, Health and Social Services at the NDDC, Dr. Patience Ezugu, represented by Principal Manager, EHSS, Dr. Otokolo Fidelis, encouraged participants to apply the knowledge gained in improving healthcare delivery within their communities.
Ezugu revealed that more than 300 women drawn from Delta and Bayelsa states participated in the workshop, with beneficiaries also receiving medical equipment and financial support to aid their services.
One of the facilitators, Mrs. Gift Akitiri, said traditional birth attendants remain the first point of contact for many expectant mothers in rural communities, making continuous training essential for safer childbirth and better health outcomes.
A participant, Mrs. Franscica Odiakosa, praised the NDDC for the initiative, saying the training had broadened her understanding of maternal healthcare and reinforced the importance of referring complicated cases to hospitals.
The commission said the workshop is part of its broader strategy to strengthen maternal and child healthcare across the Niger Delta by promoting collaboration between traditional birth attendants and the formal healthcare system.