Pregnant women advised on benefits of antenatal clinic

By Kemi Olatunde
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Pregnant women have been advised to present themselves early for antenatal clinic just as they were also charged to take at least three doses of the Intermittent Preventive Therapy (IPT), a malaria preventing drug for pregnant women in order to have healthy babies.

Ondo State Malaria Programme Officer, Ministry of Health, Dr. Waheed Folayan gave the advice during the quarterly review meeting on the activities of a partner, Tiptop on advancing the prevention of malaria in pregnancy in Akure South Local Government.

According to him, it has been observed that majority of pregnant women do not visit health facilities before 20 weeks of pregnancy which has prevented them from obtaining the IPT drug.

Describing malaria as one of the major causes of underweight babies, he stated that a lot of challenges await less than 2.5kg babies and added that government is working towards eradicating it.

Listing the complications with malaria  to include; spontaneous abortion, low birth rate, still birth and mental retardation among others, he stated that the activities of Tiptop began in November, 2019 where it has engaged Community Drug Distributors(CDDs) to give malaria drugs, advice and refer pregnant women to health centres.

Commending the activities of the CDDs, he noted that their activities have contributed to ANC attendance and solicited for more support from them.

While describing the Tiptop programme as a pilot whose success rate will inform its extension to other local governments and secondary facilities in the state, he however reiterated government’s determination to give necessary support in eradicating malaria in pregnancy in the state.

In her presentation, an official of Tiptop, Mrs Elizabeth Njoku noted that Arakale  Basic Health Centre has the highest number of malaria in pregnancy and also ANC in January 2020 due to the volume of pregnant women accessing the facility and stressed the need to sustain the community sensitisation exercise

Deputy, PHC Director, Akure South, Mr. Sola Oride in his contributions stressed the need for more community participation for improved synergy.

He explained that there has been influx of pregnant women to the facility due to the volume of necessary medical personnel which may be lacking in other health centres.

Also speaking, a participant from Ward 4, Anifowose Bankole stressed the need to encourage pregnant women to eat nutritious food just as he appealed to them not to use the mosquito net given to them for farming purposes but to use as expected.

Another participant, Abidakun Samuel from Gbogi/Isinkan ward 2 noted that a lot of pregnant women don’t take the drug due to ignorance and stressed the need for more enlightenment in order to eradicate malaria in pregnancy.

Chairman, communities, Akure South, Pastor Olaribigbe while commending government and the partner for the programme, called on all to maintain clean environment in the state.

Reproductive Health Coordinator, Ministry of Health, Mrs Aina Gbadebo called on men to mandate their pregnant wives to attend ANC for the benefit of the family.

Speaking with The Hope, Malaria Focal Person, Akure South, Mrs Bunmi Alao revealed that malaria causes 11 percent of maternal mortality and encouraged pregnant women to embrace the use of IPT during pregnancy and also ensure they deliver in recognised health facilities as and when due.