Improving the Quality of Maternity Care to End Preventable Stillbirth

The #MaternalMonday Campaign of the Wellbeing Foundation Africa has canvassed the need to improve the quality of maternity care to end preventable stillbirths. Globally, there are 2.6 million stillbirths per year, with 1.2 million stillbirths occurring when a baby’s heart stops beating during labour. However, regular antenatal care is crucial to preventing stillbirths, as it enables healthcare workers to identify and treat any risks to the health of the mother and the baby.

Antenatal screening tests and checks enable health workers like midwives to identify any risks or preventable illnesses that can contribute to stillbirth rates - such as small placentas, pre-eclampsia, diabetes or anaemia. Participants who proffered best-practice solutions noted that identifying these issues early enables rapid treatment, which can be the difference between life and death. In addition, personal health records, like the WBFA PHR, enable mothers to make informed decisions, identify gaps in practice and improve the quality of care they receive.

#MaternalMonday, the popular weekly information campaign established by Her Excellency Toyin Saraki's Wellbeing Foundation Africa seeks to empower midwives, mothers and their newborns through demand creation for birth-preparedness, reducing the scourge of preventable maternal newborn and child mortality. Mrs Saraki, the Newborn Champion for Save The Children Nigeria, also serves as Global Goodwill Ambassador to the International Confederation of Midwives.

Signed: Communications The Wellbeing Foundation Africa Email: communications@wellbeingfoundationnig.org Web: www.wbfafrica.org