MamaYe, a campaign to encourage public action to help save the lives of Nigerian mothers and babies will be launched in Abuja on Monday.
The campaign is a programme by Evidence for Action funded by the UK Department for International Development.
To mark the launch, MamaYe will
feature a staged live drama event with songs; provide the opportunity to give blood to save a mother, and encourage other actions that can help save lives.
Nigeria Country Director for Evidence for Action, Dr Tunde Segun in a press release stated that “more Nigerian mothers and babies are surviving pregnancy and childbirth than ever before, but so much more still needs to be done - by all Nigerians, not just ‘the Ministry’ or ‘the government’ or ‘the UN.’”
According to Dr Segun, ensuring women have timely access to safe healthcare services, including sufficient blood supplies, could help save about 40,000 mothers and 240,000 babies a year.
“We know change is possible. We know how to save the lives of mothers and newborns. But, first, Nigerians need to get involved and take action. Whether you are a taxi driver who can help take mothers to their local clinic; a girl training to be a midwife or a young man encouraging your sister to attend her antenatal clinic, you, too, can save a life.
“Every day, Nigerian men and women like you can take action that could give a mother and her baby a future. Join our campaign and become a MamaYe hero or heroine. Show us what you will do to help save mothers and babies” the Country Director stated.
Riding the digital wave, MamaYe (www.mamaye.org.ng) will take advantage of the 107 million mobile phone subscribers in Nigeria and use social media and a website to engage the public in this important cause.
“The MamaYe website will give the Nigerian public information, hard facts and solutions. With the help of MamaYe, Nigerians will be able to track budgets for health, and check on whether clinics are staffed with skilled health workers and equipped with drugs and other commodities” Dr Segun stated.
“MamaYe will put information in the hands of Nigerians, enabling us all to take action and save the lives of our mothers and newborns. Many are already taking action – often without recognition or reward. At today’s launch the MamaYe campaign team will showcase their efforts.
“Awards will be given to everyday ‘maternal and newborn health champions’.
“These include Dr. AshiruAbubakar of Kano, a medical practitioner who pushed for an unprecedented blood donation campaign at the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital Kano in response to loss of blood contributing to maternal deaths in the State. This campaign has so far yielded over 200 donated pints of blood – one of the highest in the country.
“As a voluntary blood donor himself, he has helped to dispel some of the misconceptions in the region towards blood donations. ChinomsoIbe from Imo, first became interested in maternal health as a student at the Midwifery Training School where she saw mothers and babies die from preventable causes. She mobilises women to achieve better health during pregnancy and childbirth by organising free check-ups, immunizations, and medical outreaches.
“Phoebe Peter from Kaduna is another MamaYe champion, a midwife who regularly and selflessly gives her own blood to save women who would otherwise die of haemorrhaging in childbirth” Dr Segun explained.
-TheNation
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