Wife of Nigeria’s Former Vice President, Dolapo Osinbajo, has called for an adequate and potential support system for pregnant women, nursing mothers, and newborns.
This is in order to achieve quality maternal healthcare services in Nigeria.
Osinbajo made the call while launching Nigeria’s first ever Omugwo Academy in Abuja. She noted that there was a need for women to have access to necessary information to help them and their babies.
Omugwo Academy is an online support platform with adequate information to provide necessary help for parents and their newborns.
While speaking further, she pointed out that women in the African continent needed help, not just in Nigeria alone. Hence, all hands must be on deck to achieve sound health for mothers and children.
“I am happy for this proposal of a community online platform that goes beyond your community influence, geographical location, and goes beyond people that surrounds you. I look forward to joining this community and being a part of this community, I look forward to seeing how people will thrive in this community.”
“Women in Africa needs help not just in Nigeria, not just where you leave or where you come from we all need help and I hope this platform will be able to achieve this and we need to join hands to achieve this feat.”
“When she introduced it to me, I found it very exciting, I am so glad you have used technology to spread what we really need.
“My message to us is that let us love one another let us help one another, when a woman just had her baby it comes with different experience all she needs is help, and we should try to reach each mother and child at their point of needs. I reiterate again that we need to love one another. The help that we give should not be limited to our families, friends, and communities alone,” she added.
Meanwhile, the Founder of the Omugwo Academy, Dr Megor Ikuenobe explained that the essence was to revolutionise Postnantal support for sustainable maternal and child well-being as well as closing the gaps between science and culture to provide adequate and quality maternal helplines for mothers and those who tend for them during and after child birth.
Ikuenobe said being privileged to witness numerous families navigate this season without adequate knowledge noted that this realization fueled the creation of the platform which is a comprehensive ecosystem committed to empowering moms, dads, families and communities with pertinent postnatal information and support to thrive.
She said that at the Academy there was a seamless blend of medical expertise with African postnatal care practices, also offering access to seasoned professionals and coupled with the invaluable experience sharing and support of fellow parents adding that, “We have curated a platform that transcends the ordinary.”
“Over a decade ago, I embarked on the transformative journey of motherhood. As a medical doctor, early childhood development, and ECCD expert, I intimately grasped the profound significance of the postnatal period for newborns, mothers, and their families. This pivotal window, if mishandled, can lead to child and maternal morbidity and mortality.
“We must not forfeit our Omugwo culture entirely. Instead, let’s pick out the beneficial practices and leave the harmful ones behind. Crafting a new culture of standardized postpartum care, which is rooted in African wisdom that empowers all mothers and families.” She added.