This was made known by the Director, Public Affairs and Communications, Coca-Cola West Africa Business Unit, Clem Ugorji, who spoke at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Ebute Metta, Lagos during the donation of medical equipment. He said such intervention will not only promote mother/child health but will reduce drastically their mortality rates.
Ugorji, said that the Safe Birth Initiative (SBI), in collaboration with Medshare International, a U.S.-based group, included the provision of critical medical equipment in the delivery room, training of para-medical engineers to ensure that machines responded to emergencies by providing the tools and upgrading their skills; resuscitate broken down machines; and advocacy to educate mothers.
He noted that 13 other hospitals will benefit from the initiative and expressed gratitude to the Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire for her patriotic role in getting the initiative onboard.
Also speaking at the event, the Chief Medical Director, FMC, Ebute Metta, Dr Adedamola Dada, said SBI will not only promote access but will also reduce the mother/infant mortality rate in the country. He said though information about the project came a little late, he nonetheless fought hard and commended the motherly role of Mrs Orelope-Adefulire who passionately supported the initiative which he said was needs-driven.
He said SBI did not just dump two container loads of medical equipment valued at $500,000 each, he disclosed that personnel were trained, noting that 21 babies have been treated in the incubators provided by SBI while 321 babies and mothers have been brought safely.