ST. MARY’S HOSPITAL UMUOWA HOSTS REGIONAL MATERNAL MORTALITY WORKSHOP JULY 2025

In a determined effort to combat the alarming rate of maternal deaths in Nigeria, St. Mary’s Children and Community Hospital, Umuowa, hosted a high-impact regional workshop on Thursday, July 24, 2025. The event, which drew participants from across Orlu Zone, focused on the theme: “Ending Preventable Maternal Deaths: Tools, Trends, and Timely Interventions.”

The seminar brought together more than 120 healthcare professionals, including midwives, nurses, doctors, health administrators, and representatives from the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA). Attendees came from public and private hospitals, community clinics, primary health centres, and traditional maternity homes scattered across the 12 local government areas of Orlu Zone.

Held in the hospital auditorium, the one-day event addressed Nigeria’s staggering maternal mortality burden — currently estimated at 512 deaths per 100,000 live births — and provided hands-on strategies for preventing the majority of these deaths, 70% of which are considered avoidable with timely intervention and appropriate care.

As the only officially designated Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (CEMONC) centre in Orlu Zone, St. Mary’s Hospital has taken up a leadership role in maternal health innovation. The hospital already offers 24-hour emergency Caesarean sections, blood transfusion services, neonatal resuscitation, skilled birth attendance, and a fully functional ambulance and referral system — the pillars of any CEMONC facility.

Throughout the workshop, participants engaged in practical sessions, including live simulations on managing postpartum hemorrhage, obstetric drills on eclampsia and sepsis, safe delivery techniques in low-resource settings, and interactive discussions on maternal rights, referral coordination, and NHIA maternal coverage. One of the standout sessions focused on the three delays contributing to maternal deaths: delay in recognizing danger signs, delay in accessing care, and delay in receiving skilled treatment.

“This is the most practical and empowering seminar I’ve ever attended. I now understand how to act fast and what to do in emergencies,” said a midwife from Amaifeke, visibly moved by the hands-on approach of the training.

The event also featured a special video message from medical partners in Germany, who have been longstanding supporters of the hospital’s maternal and child health initiatives. In their message, they reaffirmed their commitment to supporting training, equipment, and sustainable interventions in rural maternal care.

The atmosphere at the workshop was both inspiring and urgent, as participants acknowledged the heavy responsibility that maternal care providers bear. There was a shared determination that no woman should lose her life while giving life — especially when the tools to prevent such outcomes are within reach.

According to the hospital’s Medical Director, Dr Obi Onukogu , “the workshop is part of a broader strategy by St. Mary’s to build capacity and strengthen maternal health systems across the region”.  “We are not waiting for solutions from above,” he said. “We are building systems from the ground up — one trained health worker at a time.”

The hospital plans to continue hosting such capacity-building programs, alongside expanding its maternal services, to meet the growing needs of women in underserved rural communities.

St. Mary’s Children and Community Hospital, Umuowa, remains at the forefront of maternal health advocacy and emergency response in southeastern Nigeria, with its model of care increasingly attracting national and international attention.

With the success of the workshop, it is clear that Orlu Zone has taken a bold and hopeful step forward in the fight against preventable maternal deaths.