As a way of complementing government efforts in reducing maternal and child mortality rate in Ondo State, Rotary Club International has introduced Electronic Data Platform in eight states in Nigeria including Ondo State.
National coordinator, Rotary International Maternal and Child Health Mortality Reduction Quality Assurance Project, Prof. Emmanuel Lufadeju disclosed this yesterday during a courtesy call on the Commissioner for Health, Dr Wahab Adegbenro in his office in Akure.
According to him, the platform which has been presented to 80 hospitals was developed to monitor hospital especially in the area of adequate datas presentation, especially on maternal death.
He explained that many of the causes of maternal and child deaths are preventable, hence the essence of the project in the state.
While commending the government of Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, for its impact in the health sector, he described maternal and child death as worrisome saying "out of 10,000 births, we lose between 500 to 600".
Stressing the need for women to be knowledgeable about their body system especially during pregnancy, he stated that it is important they attend every ante-natal clinic in order to stay healthy.
While speaking extensively on the Electronic Data Platform, Lufadeju noted that the club has trained concerned hospital staff on its usage.
According to him: "the data of the hospital is collected on the phone of the medical officer who at the end of the month sends to the state Ministry of Health where the trained statistician generates report which is used for some purposes;
"It would enable them know what happens in the hospital, plan properly and also used for budget purpose."
The project coordinator who harped on the need for hospitals to review death hinted that Ondo State is one of the first beneficiaries and added that the club is on the verge of expanding the project in the state.
Lufadeju who expressed hope that the project would achieve quick result according to the success recorded in other states. However revealed the door-to-door family planning project of the club which according to him would enable Ondo becomes a reference point on completion of its tenure.
His words: "Ondo state is fortunate as we are testing door-to-door family planning project in the state.
"We have trained some CHEWS on it. It is for one year, Ondo and Enugu states are the only participating states".
Speaking earlier, Dr Adegbenro described Rotary Club International as the biggest social organisation in the world with quality humanitarian services, saying "it has been doing a lot in the health sector".
He commended the club's project which he said is aimed at reducing to the barest minimum death of both mother and child during delivery.
According to him, it has been involved in 10 hospitals in the state and added that it has trained a lot of staff members and provided good number of equipment among others.
While applauding it for developing the electronic data base which according to him has been working perfectly in the state, he however appealed to the club to spread the gesture to the remaining 48 hospitals in the state.
State Project Midwife for the club, Mrs Juliet Kuduyo described the Maternal and Child Health Mortality Reduction Quality Assurance Project as a scale up from a previous project which was implemented in Kaduna and Kano States between 2008 and 2010 where 60 percent maternal mortality reduction and 15 percent foetal mortality reduction was achieved.
