United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has donated a total of 200 training arm models to 98 midwifery schools across the country to help their students train in administering implants and other Long Lasting Reversible Contraceptives (LARC).
Ratidza Ndlovu, representative of UNFPA in Nigeria said “Nigeria’s profile in the State of Midwifery Report reveals that by 2030, Nigeria’s population is projected to increase by 62% to 273.1 million.
“To achieve universal access to sexual, reproductive, maternal and newborn care, midwifery services must respond to 12.8 million pregnancies per annum by 2030, 50% of them in rural settings.
“Nigeria would be faced with figuring how best to configure and deploy healthworkers in sexual, reproductive, maternal and newborn health to cover at least 837 million antenatal visits, 163 million births, and 655 million post natal visits by 2030.
“Midwives are in the best position to provide these critical services for mothers and their babies by virtue of their training.”
Wellbeing Foundation founder Toyin Saraki, wife of senate president Bukola Saraki also emphasised the need for a national conference on midwifery to allow practitioners update their technical knowledge and skills to prevent complications that result in the childbirth-related deaths of women and babies.