The Federal Government of Nigeria, the Government of the United States of America and General Electric, GE have launched a new mother-and-child health initiative to expand access to pre-natal screening to over two million expectant mothers in Nigeria by 2020.
News Agency of Nigeria, NAN reports the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle as saying that the "Healthy Imagination Mother and Child Initiative'' would help to reduce preventable mother and infant deaths.
According to Entwistle, 40,000 maternal deaths per year occur in Nigeria. He noted that many pregnant women delayed seeking care until potential life-threatening condition arose, adding that no mother should die from preventable causes.
He explained that the tripartite partnership between Nigeria, U.S. and GE would identify at-risk pregnancies early and refer women to higher level of care.
He said that the $20 million project will also address maternal and child health challenges among health workers in Nigeria.
He also said that the initiative would enhance training of midwives, nurses and other health professionals in the use of portable ultrasound (Vscan Access) screening tool to determine at-risk pregnancies.
"The US Government is committed to engaging in effective and innovative alliance with the private sector to support Nigeria’s criteria development needs.
"We are proud to collaborate with GE to bring quality health services to millions of women and children in Nigeria,” he said.
Entwistle also said that the initiative would target 1,300 midwives and prenatal primary healthcare givers in six states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja with over 100,000 hours of training over the next three years in maternal and child health care.
He said that General Electric's portable ultrasound Vscan Access launched at the World Health Assembly in Geneva in May 2015, is designed for front-line workers in low-resource settings to help improve maternal health.
The event was attended by Dr. Ado Mohammed, Executive Director of National Primary Health Care Development Agency and the GE Chairman, Jeffrey Immelt among others.
NAN