NGO Trains Nurses, Midwives in FCT on Use of Modern Medical Equipment
Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja
A non-governmental organisation, Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA) has organised a training and capacity building programme for Nurses and Midwives in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.
The aim was to increase access to use of medical equipment in Nigeria.
Also, in a bid to ensure safer births, the organisation targeted the training of Midwives on the use of the Vscan Portable Hand-held Ultrasound Machine.
The two-day training programme which took place at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, in the Federal Capital Territory, from Thursday to Friday, saw Wellbeing Foundation Africa donating eight General Electric (GE) VScan handheld ultrasound machines to primary healthcare facilities across Nigeria.
Speaking about the training, the Founder and President of WBFA, Toyin Ojora Saraki, said, the deployment of high tech portable ultrasound machines would contribute to the Wellbeing Foundation Africa’s progressive antenatal intrapartum and postnatal care pathway; “a community health centered offering that daily commits to the early detection and subsequent diagnosis of women and neonates to minimise adverse antenatal intrapartum and postnatal complications.”
She said the objective was to ensure a well-trained and supported midwife capable of delivering quality antenatal and postnatal maternity care and counsel to an informed and empowered mother.
“We welcome the donation of these ultrasound machines that will contribute to the empowerment of the frontline midwives in Nigeria.
“The Wellbeing Foundation Africa’s quest to continue contributing to global goals of zero maternal and neonatal deaths by 2030, has been further empowered following the generous donation of eight VScan handheld ultrasound machines from the Nigerian division of the global medical technology innovator, General Electric (GE) Healthcare.
“This donation is aimed at improving maternal and child health outcomes in Nigeria by empowering midwives with the knowledge and tools to provide accurate antenatal care,” she said.
According to Saraki, the VScan Portable Ultrasound Machine is a state-of-the-art medical device that provides real-time imaging of the internal organs of pregnant women.
She explained that, “With this technology, midwives can detect potential complications during pregnancy and provide timely interventions to prevent adverse outcomes for mothers and their babies.”
The two-day training program, which was conducted by Mr. Gospel Johnson, Lead Application Specialist Ultrasound Imaging Modality, GE Medical Technologies West Africa sought to equip midwives with the necessary skills to operate and interpret ultrasound images using the V-Scan Portable Ultrasound Machine.
The training also had hands-on practice where the midwives were able to measure the head and abdominal circumference of a fetus.
Some of the stakeholders present at the training included officials from the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Safe Motherhood coordinator, Federal Capital Territory Primary Health Care Board, Nursing, Health and Human Services, Federal Capital Territory Administration,
Also speaking on the training, representative of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, (NPHCDA), Mrs. Aliyu Aliu Uneratu, said the partnership between WBFA and GE is a significant step towards achieving better maternal and child health outcomes in Nigeria and a testament to the commitment of both organisations to improving healthcare in Africa.
