AMCH NEWSLETTER - 4TH EDITION
It is with great pleasure and excitement that we release another newsletter. Covid-19 pandemic and its attendant effect on Abiye Maternal and Child Health International Foundation (AMCH)’s operations forestalled the release of the 2020/2021 newsletter. These experiences, however, encouraged AMCH to adopt an electronic option in publishing its newsletters. We hope to use this medium henceforth.
Regrettably, AMCH suffered a huge loss in the passing of our indefatigable and compassionate Chairman, Dr. Adeniyi Amole on the 8th February 2021.
Dr. Adeniyi Amole, the Proprietor and Chief Medical Director of Lister Medical Centre, Ikeja was the founding chairman of AMCH’s Board of Trustees. A fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, Glasglow, Dr. Amole was a philanthropist who had huge experience as a general surgeon and medical practitioner.
He was a deeply compassionate and true gentleman, selflessly committed to the service of God and man. At Abiye Maternal and Child Health International Foundation (AMCH), he was a strong pillar of support and an exemplary leader, championing our causes and contributing in all ways to making them a reality. He will be missed by us at AMCH.
INTRODUCTION
The pandemic lockdown early in 2020 meant working remotely for a while. This led to AMCH’s activities being restricted, most conspicuously in healthcare capacity building with our regular training programmes. Nevertheless, our online activities like; creating public awareness and celebrating WHO activities, supporting indigent patients and advocacy to the government continued.
We appreciate our board of trustees, donors, sponsors, partners, participants, and volunteers for past, present, and future invaluable support for AMCH.
WEBINAR ORGANIZED BY ABIYE MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION (AMCH) ON RESILIENCE IN TIMES OF COVID 19
In July 2020, AMCH held a webinar on resilience in times of Covid 19 pandemic. The focus of this webinar was to encourage and help build resilience amongst health workers while highlighting the challenges they faced.
Speakers at the webinar were drawn from both public and private hospitals. Dr. Bamidele Mutiu who worked with the Laboratory at the Covid Center in Yaba was on ground to talk from his own experience on the pandemic, staff, facilities, and the processes and procedures put in place to help combat the pandemic by the government.
Dr. Ngozi Onyia (Medical Director, Memorial Hospitals) spoke of the challenges private medical directors faced.
Other speakers include; Mrs. Erimaf Nwanmah from Memorial Hospitals, Dr. Dapo Denloye (Registrar, St Helen Knowsley’s Foundation Trust UK), Dr. Ademola Denloye (Chief Medical Director, St Luke’s Hospital, Yaba, Lagos), Dr Okong Orok (Head of Outpatients, Zanil Hospital, Abuja), Dr Sulola Adekoya (Chief Medical Director, Community Health State of Virginia), Mrs. Bisi Bright (Chief Executive Officer, LiveWell Initiative, Lagos) and Mrs. Abigail Petersen ( Nurse at LiveWell Initiative). It was very interesting, interactive, and well-taken.
SUPPORT OF INDIGENTS
AMCH supported newborn patients at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) and Ota State Hospital. Mr and Mrs. Omagee who had quintuplets at LASUTH received contributions generated by AMCH. Ms. Bukola Akintayo, a pregnant Maruwa driver from Ota had her antenatal and some of her delivery fees paid by AMCH.
ADVOCACY VISITS TO THE LAGOS STATE MINISTRY OF HEALTH
AMCH met with the then, new Commissioner of Health, Professor. Akin Abayomi, Dr. Oludara, Director Family Health and Nutrition, and other principal officers on 21st January 2020 for an introduction and discussions centering on AMCH activities and its observations towards future proposals to scale-up Essential New-born Care Course (ENCC) training to other LGAS.
AMCH partners, Latter-Day Saints Charities (LDSC) representative, Mr. Mahmud Labinjo, A-kins Analyst’s representative, Mr. Tolu Akintan, AMCH facilitators Dr. Oluwabiyi, Mrs.Odukoya, Dr. Olutekunbi, Dr. Fadare and Dr. Duke were also in attendance.
After a review of projects/pieces of training at Ikorodu, Epe and Ibeju-Lekki, highlighting challenges and limitations faced to reduce neonatal and maternal mortality in Lagos, Prof. Disu presented AMCH’s recommendations for scaling-up training to other LGAs. The Commissioner expressed his willingness and commitment to partner with AMCH.
A similar visit was paid to the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye on the 29th of December 2020 to intimate him of AMCH’s activities and its ongoing 5-year proposed grant/project from Rotary Club, California to scale up ENCC training and donate equipment to facilities in five LGAs in Lagos. Also our partners, A-kins Analyst representative (Mr. Tolu Akintan) and the then President of the Rotary club of Abijo ,Mr. Philtust and three of his other club members were also present at the meeting. Dr. Ogboye pledged support and cooperation with AMCH.
ADVOCACY VISITS TO LAGOS STATE HEALTH SERVICE COMMISSION AND PRIMARY HEALTH CARE BOARD
The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Health Service Commission, Dr. Ademuyiwa Eniayewun on 9th August 2021 gave audience to AMCH, when briefings on the activities of breastfeeding week were made. AMCH reported an increasing number of facilities independently commemorating World breastfeeding week following previous collaborations with AMCH. Poor exclusive breastfeeding across was decried with suggestions for the way forward for the government to provide the needed support.
AMCH also met the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board (LSPHCB), Dr. Ibrahim Akinwunmi Mustafa, and other officials, sensitizing state officials on its activities and challenges and also proposed collaboration for capacity building with the PHCB. Dr. Mustafa promised his support and cooperation for collaboration in building the capacity of health workers.
DONATION OF VSCAN ACCESS EQUIPMENT BY GE HEALTHCARE WEST AFRICA
A pleasant surprise came in July 2021 when GE International Operations (Nig) Ltd donated seven units of GE manufactured Vscan Access Equipment (portable, handheld, battery-powered ultrasound scan with specialized features for obstetrics examinations and quantifications) to Abiye Maternal and Child Health International Foundation (AMCH).
AMCH formally received this donation on the 15th of July 2021. GE made the donation as a corporate social responsibility to increase access to quality maternal and child medical services, most critically in rural areas of Lagos. The donated equipment worth 14 million was presented to seven (7) selected facilities in remote areas following the training of health workers on practical use of the equipment. These facilities include: Ibeju-Lekki General Hospital, Lekki PHC Ibeju-Lekki, Eredo PHC Epe, General Hospital Agbowa, Ketu-Ejinrin PHC, Mowokekere Health Centre and Oke-Eletu Health Centre.
AMCH collaborated with GE healthcare for the two training workshops on the use of Vscan Access in Obstetrics Ultrasound at Agbowa General Hospital and Epe General Hospital, 8-10thSeptember, and 15th-17th September, respectively. The twenty-six healthcare workers (doctors and nurses) trained at both workshops were to step down of the training at their facilities.
WORLD BREASTFEEDING WEEK
AMCH annually commemorates World Breastfeeding week with sensitization talks and demonstrations on breastfeeding practices given at various public facilities, public enlightenment on breastfeeding through Television, radio talks, Social Media and online seminar for healthcare workers on breastfeeding.
During the 2021 WBW, AMCH worked with Lagos State Ministry of Health, Departments of Paediatrics and Child Health and Community Medicine, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) to commemorate Word Breastfeeding week. The theme for the year- “Protect Breastfeeding: A Shared Responsibility”.
Activities began on Monday 2nd August, with talks and demonstrations on breastfeeding practices at Mother and Child Maternity centre, Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos, Ikorodu General Hospital, and on Tuesday 3rd August, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ifako-Ijaiye General Hospital and Isolo General Hospital, running until Thursday 5th August 2021.
Professor Elizabeth Disu was present at LTV Station to raise awareness through media for the Breastfeeding Week 2021 on Wednesday 4th August. On Sunday 6th August, AMCH hosted a well-attended Webinar with the topic: “Protect Breastfeeding: A Shared Responsibilty”. The webinar attracted over seventy(70) participants, including national speakers from NAFDAC and a Federal University Teaching Hospital. It was highly interactive and interesting.
It was heart-warming to note that some facilities that had previously collaborated with AMCH independently held excellent activities to commemorate WBW week.
On the 5th of September, AMCH joined the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists for a rally-walk from Ikeja City Mall to LTV Station to create public awareness on breastfeeding. AMCH executive director, Professor Disu gave an interactive talk on breastfeeding.
WORLD PREMATURITY DAY
World Prematurity Day as usual is celebrated on the 17th of November every year, a day set aside to celebrate the survival of preterm infants and draw attention to their plight. It is a day to highlight the challenges their parents and carers face in the delivery and care of the preterm.
Preterm babies constitute a large number of newborn death and those who survive may have long-term implications of the brain, lungs, and eyes plus other disabilities. Abiye Maternal and Child Health International Foundation (AMCH) collaborated with a team drawn from Lagos State Ministry of Health (LSMOH) and Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) to commemorate World Prematurity Day (WPD).
In keeping with Covid regulations and safety precautions, many of the programs were held online. In 2020, it hosted a hybrid session- a webinar online and a stakeholder meeting which was both physical and online. In 2021, AMCH also had hybrid (online/physical) sessions with a symposium on “The science behind zero separation of preterm infant and mother”.
The Symposium consisted of a Journal Review, Keynote Lecture by Dr. Zainab Imam, a Consultant Paediatrician at LASUTH, and KMC Presentations conducted, online via Zoom on Wednesday 17th November at 10 am. Over eighty people were in attendance with representatives from LSMOH, NISOMN, LASUTH Management, AMCH, and the private sector. Tunnizze Creations’ representative, Mrs. Okeleye gave a report on knitted items by children from various parts of the country, donated to AMCH to distribute to various newborn units across the country.
The stakeholders’ meeting which took place on the same day was an audit of preterm babies admitted at various hospitals/facilities in the previous year. The event took place at LASUTH. The participating hospitals included: Gbagada General Hospital, Ifako-Ijaiye General Hospital, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Randle General Hospital, Massey Street Children Hospital, Ikorodu General Hospital, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Ijede GH, Alimosho GH, Amuwo-Odofin MCC, Epe GH, Badagry GH, Ajeromi GH, Eti-Osa GH, and Isolo General Hospital.
Several hospitals shared their experiences and the meeting concluded with recommendations and resolutions made on the management and care of preterm babies. An important observation noted was of improved care in delivery with new innovations leading to reduced mortality of infants across the facilities.
NEW CHAIRMAN BOARD OF TRUSTEES
AMCH proudly announces her new AMCH, Chairman, board of trustees, Dr. Olufemi Olugbile who has already anchored excellently, a number of activities.
Dr. Olufemi Olugbile, MD/CEO of FM Synthesize Nigeria Ltd and a consultant at Mental Health and Health Services Department, Nigeria is AMCH’s new Chairman of the Board of Trustees. He is a fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, (FRC Psych) UK, the Nigerian Post-Graduate Medical College (FNMC Psych), and the Nigerian Institute of Management (FNM).
Dr. Olugbile is a man of great experience and excellent leadership capabilities. He was a former Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health from 2010 –2014, Chief Medical Director of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) from 2001 – 2010, and also a former Chairman of the African International Development Division, Royal College of Psychiatrists. He is currently the chairman of the Association of Retired Permanent Secretaries, Lagos State.
Dr. Olugbile’s highly accomplished career and experience would be beneficial to lead and direct AMCH to the next level of growth, development, and success in accomplishing its mission.