NDDC Trains Traditional Birth Attendants To Curb Maternal, Newborn Deaths

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has trained more than 300 traditional birth attendants (TBAs) in Delta and Bayelsa states as part of efforts to reduce preventable maternal and newborn deaths in the region.

The intervention, which focused on safe maternal and newborn care practices, is in support of the Federal Government’s Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative aimed at improving healthcare outcomes for women and children.

The NDDC disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday in Port Harcourt by its Director of Corporate Affairs, Seledi Thompson-Wakama.

Speaking during a workshop organised for the traditional birth attendants, the Managing Director of the NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, urged women to combine traditional birth practices with orthodox medical care to achieve better maternal and child health outcomes.

Ogbuku, who was represented by the Principal Manager, Education, Health and Social Services, Mrs Dare-Oloko Kuami, described the high rate of maternal and child deaths in the country as unacceptable, stressing the need for increased awareness and preventive measures.

He said, “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.”

The NDDC boss explained that the training was designed to equip traditional birth attendants with the skills needed to provide safer maternal care, identify pregnancy-related complications early, and ensure timely referral of high-risk cases to healthcare facilities.

Also speaking, the Director of Education, Health and Social Services at the NDDC, Dr Patience Ezugu, urged women involved in childbirth support services to acquire the necessary knowledge to improve care delivery in their communities.

Ezugu, represented by the Principal Manager, EHSS, Dr Otokolo Fidelis, said over 300 women from Delta and Bayelsa states participated in the programme, adding that they received medical equipment and financial support.

A resource person at the workshop, Mrs Gift Akitiri, stressed the importance of continuous training for traditional birth attendants, noting their critical role in rural communities where access to healthcare facilities remains a challenge.

She said, “Traditional birth attendants are trusted members of many communities, and by equipping them with updated knowledge, we are helping to ensure that mothers and newborns will receive timely, appropriate care and improve health outcomes.”

One of the participants, Mrs Franscica Odiakosa, commended the NDDC for the initiative, saying the training had improved her understanding of maternal healthcare and referral procedures.

She said, “It is a very good thing that NDDC did; I have gained a lot of knowledge today that would enhance the quality of healthcare I will provide for the community, and I have also learnt to refer mothers to the health centres and hospitals when I cannot handle the situation.”

The commission said the programme is part of its broader efforts to strengthen healthcare services in the Niger Delta by improving collaboration between traditional birth attendants and formal healthcare providers.