Step Up Maternal Care, expert tells TBAs
A medical expert, Dr Toluwalope Emmanuel Ariyo, has called on all Traditional Birth Attendants TBAs to give maximum care to pregnant women even before conception, in order to ensure safe delivery and reduce the high rate of maternal mortality.
Dr Ariyo gave the advice while presenting a lecture at the 2025 seminar themed “Enhancing Best Practices in Child Delivery and Primary Health Care”, organised by Shiphrah and Puah Agbebiye of Nigeria Limited in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
Ariyo, who was the guest lecturer at the event, charged the Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) to properly advise pregnant women on the importance of safeguarding their health even before conception.
He said they should encourage prospective pregnant women to take folic acid and ferrous supplements, while appreciating the TBAs for their continued efforts in complementing the government’s work on maternal health.
Also, a dietician, Mrs Ajimatanreje, spoke on “The Role of Appropriate Nutrition in the First 1,000 Days of Life.”
Ajimatanreje, who described the first 1,000 days as beginning from conception until a child is two years old, said pregnant women should eat protein-rich foods such as eggs, fish, beans, vegetables, meat, crayfish and liver.
She highlighted the importance of what she called macro-nutrients, which are blood-building and energy-giving, as well as micro-nutrients, which help the body fight diseases.
While stressing the importance of adequate water intake, she urged TBAs to educate pregnant women on the dangers of excessive protein consumption, warning that abusing it could result in kidney malfunction.
“Between 30 and 60 grammes of meat per meal is enough for them,” she said.
According to her, pregnant women may also eat solid foods like eba for energy, but not in excessive amounts.
Earlier, in her welcome address, the President of Shiphrah and Puah Agbebiye of Nigeria Limited, Rev Adesanmi Yemisi Magret, advised her members not to administer any form of injection to pregnant women but to refer them to government or registered hospitals for any required vaccination.
She noted that TBAs are not permitted by law to do so, regardless of the patient’s condition.
She, however, appreciated the resource persons for honouring their invitation, and the participants for attending the 2025 seminar.
