“Wa so ka le la ayo ati alafia” “Eku ewu” these are popular Yoruba expressions wishing a pregnant woman safe delivery, or congratulating her for returning from the “Valley of death”. To most women, motherhood is a cherished experience, however the beginning of the journey is often characterized with a high level of uncertainty which results in fear and apprehension for pregnant women and their loved ones. This could be attributed to the alarming rate of maternal and infant mortality in Nigeria, which available statistics reveal is the second highest the world after India.

Maternal mortality is the death of a woman during pregnancy, delivery, or within 42 days of delivery, the exception of accidental deaths. These occur as a result of complications such as hemorrhage, infections, unsafe abortion, eclampsia and obstructed labour, leading to the death of about 1441 women and girls everyday in Nigeria. This high rate is primarily due to the fact that many women do not have access to adequate antenatal care, which is the monitoring of the mother and child's health and development during pregnancy. At this stage, many of the problems that put the mother's life at risk could be avoided by regular visits to the doctor. Unfortunately, only 60% of pregnant Nigerian women have access to antenatal care. In addition, only 35% have a skilled medical attendant during delivery.

These depressing statistics propelled, Opeyemi Ogunlola a LEAP Africa Youth Leadership Programme Alumni, to launch the “Save Mothers, Save Babies” initiative in Bawari community, Abuja. Opeyemi, who believes that every mother and child have a right to survival, is working diligently to support the 5th UN Millennium Development Goal to improve maternal health.

Five years to the 2015 deadline, Opeyemi was able to launch the initiative through the support of LEAP Africa, a nonprofit organization committed to developing dynamic, innovative and principled African leaders that encourages it beneficiaries to identify and commence positive change efforts geared towards improving the lives of people in their immediate communities. She also received the support of community organizations.

“The reasons for this high maternal mortality rate in Nigeria are not farfetched; expectant mothers in Nigeria are not exposed to the best of antenatal health care facilities and relevant Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials on reproductive health” says Opeyemi Ogunlola.

Regrettably most of these women as a result of ignorance are unaware of the health packages and facilities available and these are places were they can get appropriate information on diet, relevant light weight exercises, and activities to avoid during pregnancy.

According to Opeyemi, “Save Mothers, Save Babies” initiative plans to reduce maternal mortality rate through promotion of healthy living among recently conceived women. This is achieved through a two-day pre-delivery symposium that educates the beneficiaries on the importance of balanced diet, regular medical checkup, regular and relevant exercise lessons, on the need for the use of treated mosquito nets before, during and after pregnancy, as well as the creation of a data base of recently conceived women in select communities for other immediate intervention strategies such as cancer prevention, importance of breast feeding, Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMCT) of HIV/AIDS. Building on the success of the pilot, Opeyemi also launched “Save Mothers, Save Babies” initiative in Mokola–Sango community, Ibadan Oyo State.
The symposiums featured nutritionists, physiotherapists and medical doctors. Lectures were communicated in Hausa and English in Bwari, Abuja and Yoruba and English in Mokola, Ibadan for enhanced comprehension for the audience.

Consequently the initiative complimented the efforts by Bwari General Hospital, in Bwari community, Abuja. To date, Opeyemi has educated and improved the quality of antenatal care received by (49) women in Bwari and sixty (60) women in Mokola–Sango community, Ibadan Oyo State.

Post programme data from the hospitals and monitoring forms shows a considerable increase in the number of expectant mothers who register and attend regular antennal clinics. In addition follow up on most of the women who attended the symposiums revealed an increase in the rate of healthy babies and mothers 42 days after delivery.

1UN Factsheet, MDG 5: Improve Maternal Health, DPI/2517 K - September 2008