Postcard from Nigeria, pt. 2: improving services and policy to improve health rights

Ipas supported the creation of post-abortion care services at the Federal Medical Centre in Abia State, Nigeria.

Photo courtesy of Melodie Hunter

In July, Ipas's Africa Region Coordinator Melodie Hunter took her first trip to Nigeria to meet her colleagues at Ipas Nigeria and experience firsthand Ipas'ss work in the country. For one week, Melodie visited hospitals in three cities, shadowing Ipas Nigeria Country Director Ejike Oji as he met with doctors and public officials. This is the second installment of Melodie's travel diary; the first can be read here.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Our next stop was the city of Umuahia in Abia State where we met with one of our project partners, Dr. Okechukwu Madukwe, the project manager for the Abia State Health System Development Project II. A gracious host and energetic partner, Dr. Madukwe talked to us about his efforts to promote reproductive health services in his community by enabling better access to care. He recently provided 10 ambulances and distributed telephone numbers to women in the community so that women who need postabortion care (PAC) can call anytime and get transportation to the nearest hospital.This is important because women who have had an unsafe abortion may not know that they have safe options for care: the stigma associated with abortion may keep women from seeking appropriate health care, or they may not have transportation to a provider. Dr. Madukwe's arrangement will help to make sure women get the care they need.

Following the meeting with Dr. Madukwe, we headed to Federal Medical Center of Umuahia, a huge hospital bustling with patients. There we met with Medical Director Dr. Chuckwuemeka Oluoha and Dr. Ebere Habor, the PACNET (Post abortion Care Network) deputy zonal coordinator, who took us to visit the center's MVA room (MVA stands for "manual vacuum aspirator," a medical device used to treat an incomplete abortion). The MVA room was located in the quieter maternity wing of the hospital, away from other crowded and noisy wings, and there was a young woman waiting for treatment when we came in. He said that the PAC program is "really succeeding," and seemed very pleased with the hospital'spartnership with Ipas.

All three hospitals that we visited on my trip were a far cry from a U.S. or European hospital, with their bright lights, large exam rooms and orderly waiting areas; but even in the midst of the challenging conditions of the Nigerian hospitals, the MVA room always stood out, a small haven for women in need of compassionate care.

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Ipas's work is not just limited to improving clinical care.There must be policies in place and leaders that support women as well.  After our hospital visit, we visited one of our major policy partners, Elder Chief Mrs. N. E. Onwusogh, chairperson of the Local Government Service Commission for Abia State. Mrs. Onwusogh made it possible for 31 nurse midwives to be trained in PAC and supplied with 20 MVA kits. Local health centers are the first line of care for most people in communities, and frequently staffed primarily by a nurse or nurse midwife, with doctors concentrated at larger hospitals farther away. She reminded us that she and her community members are "ready to help in any form." It was extremely encouraging to see that community leaders in all parts of the country are willing to work for women's health rights, not just in theory, but by creating the resources that enable better health -care services.

After we returned to Owerri from our day trip to Umuahia, I tagged along with Ejike for one last meeting, this time with Mrs. Rachel Nsofor Ndulue, a deputy director of the Ministry of Justice and the chairperson of FIDA (the International Federation of Women Lawyers) for Imo State. We discussed with her how Ipas could provide support during the annual "August meetings," where all Igbo women return to their villages to hold week-long meetings.These meetings are an important opportunity for community leaders to learn more about women's concerns, as well as to impart important health information.

Wednesday July 23, 2008

The following morning we rose early to take a flight back to Abuja from Owerri. We then went directly to the office to catch up on work and to enjoy an evening of relaxation and celebration with local and visiting staff. What a whirlwind this week is!

For more information, contact:
Kirsten Sherk
Senior Associate, Media Relations
e-mail: sherkk@ipas.org
phone: 919.960.5612
fax: 919.929.0258