Maternal And Child Health: Rotary Club Kawo Kaduna takes Sensitization To Abakpa Health Centre  … donates lockable record keeping cabinets 

The donation of 3 designed lockers to Abakpa Health Care Centre she explained was the outcome of their earlier ‘needs assessment’ visit to the community. It is a donation to the health centre to assist for their filing and record keeping.

“Before now, we were here to do what is called ‘needs assessment’ asking them questions and even went to the sarki (community leader) to acquaint him with our project and seeking his assistance to speak to the women for us to sensitize them regarding their health especially the pregnant women and nursing mothers, on how they can take care of themselves hygienically anywhere they are.”

Rotarian Ramatu encouraged the men to once in a while accompany their wives to anti-natal clinic especially when the pregnancy is old. “so that the men can also see how their wives feel and what they are going through when they get to the hospital.”

The Head of Abakpa Health Centre

 Sister Adama Abubakar who received the lockers on behalf of the centre expressed happiness over the gesture while praying that Allah rewards rotary club Kawo abundantly.

“We are very happy to receive this gift from rotary club Kawo Kaduna. We pray that Allah reward them for their good work”. The lockers she said will go a long way in easing their filing and records  keeping.

The Assistant Zonal Coordinator, Zone 3, District 9127, Rotarian Aisha Ismail

was on ground to assess the activity.

Speaking,

“I came here to see what is going on as well as give support to the president and her team who are here for their project.

I am very satisfied with what l have seen here today. The outreach is very okay. The sensation and distribution exercise is commendable. She commended the team for presenting the centre with one of their needs. ( lockable file cabinets)

Giving a brief on what rotary stand for, she has this to say.

“Rotary is an organisation, made up of a group of people that come together to take care of their community. One of such care is this ‘maternal and child health project’. It is amongst our seven areas of focus. It is the project we are into now.”

Delivering her lecture, Dr. Oluwa Damilola

Akpapunam from Giwa hospital Kaduna emphasized on the need for pregnant and nursing mothers to take good care of their health and that of their babies.

Personal hygiene is very paramount, she stressed.

Educating the women, she enumerated some areas of concern which included some of the possible changes that could occur during pregnancy and how to go about it.

Pregnant and nursing mothers she explained experience physiological and emotional changes and advised that they be handled with care and love because some characteristics are bound to be displayed due to these hormonal changes.

Dr. Oluwa Damilola emphasised the importance of women attending anti-natal clinic during pregnancy and post-natal care after delivery for the safety of mother and child.

“You need to start your anti-natal clinic early. That is, during the first three months. That is the first trimester because of the scan you will do. It will give us the date a woman might likely give birth because anything after that the date keeps changing.

ln a brief interaction with Zainab Tanimu of Newsreservoir shortly after the event,  Dr. Oluwa Damilola further explained that both pregnancy and lactation period are periods of significant physiological and emotional changes for women, thus requiring careful attention to nutrition, health, and emotional well-being.

“These changes start when a woman takes in whereby she experiences some hormonal changes within her. For instance, she notices her nipples, breast, waist getting enlarged, abdomen increasing in size. In the morning, sometimes she is okay, towards the evening she starts feeling a little down.

She might be anxious especially if she is a first timer. Little things they feel it’s a problem but by the time you talk to them, they see it’s not a problem. Some might have increase in their appetite while others is the opposite. Some may vomit and some may not vomit. There are so many other changes that a mother will notice and know that yes, l am pregnant”.

While advising that husbands and family members be supportive and patient with their wives at this critical time, healthcare professionals assistance is vital, she added.

“Please let’s care for these women. Let’s relieve them of these anxieties. We should be able to help them because it is a tiring time.”

Nutritious diet is very essential at this time for the growth of the child and wellbeing of the mother during pregnancy and for breastfeeding mother.

For efficient flow of breast milk, take the local nourishing ‘kunu’. She sounded.

She advised on the need to visit recognized hospitals rather than quack clinics to avoid risking the lives of mother and baby.