In Nigeria, hundreds of women and children under the age of 5
die daily, making the country one of the most significant contributors to
maternal and child mortality globally, says
UNICEF.
So many factors caused this: lack of access to healthcare facilities, poor
health practices, use of unclean materials, among others. These can be as a
result of poverty, effects of terrorism, etc.
Joy Chioma is the Co-Founder of Natal Cares, a social enterprise with a mission
to reduce maternal and infant mortality from complications of pregnancy or
delivery. The organisation specifically focus on pregnant women and nursing
mothers in IDP Camps (internally Displaced Persons) and Rural disconnected
communities in Nigeria.
Joy is a graduate of the Federal University of Technology Akure and also a YALI
alumnus. Having carried out her National Youth Service (NYSC) in a
rural community in Adamawa State, Nigeria, she had first-hand experience of
what pregnant women and nursing mothers face during and after pregnancy.
Since then, she has developed an undying passion for using the power of mobile
technology and low-cost innovations in bridging the healthcare gap between under-served
rural communities and the Urban Communities of Nigeria.
Natal Cares achieves its mission by providing pregnant women and nursing mothers with regular medically approved health information. This achieved through SMS and, alternatively, voice call services on pregnancy, motherhood, safe delivery and healthy baby lifestyle to improve maternal and infant health.
The
messages include pregnancy follow up, clinic reminders, child growth and
nutrition, breastfeeding, immunisation reminders, parenting tips, common
symptoms, child health care tips, nutrition guides, family planning tips and
more.
The
platform also has a Natal Care Kit which contains essential supplies required
at childbirth to ensure a clean, safe and hygienic delivery to help mothers and
newborns avoid acquiring infections during childbirth, especially in
underserved rural communities.
Natal
Cares also carries out health care capacity buildings and sensitisation
programs in IDP Camps and disconnected rural communities. It also trains
traditional birth attendants and local midwives on the latest delivery methods
and technique and advocates for better healthcare at primary health centres.
