Nigeria

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF CHILD MORTALITY IN NIGERIA?
The biggest cause of child mortality in Nigeria is neo-natal causes.. 4/100 die at birth or soon after due to the problems mentioned above. The other major causes of child mortality are malaria, pneumonia, diarrhea and measles.

To save the lives of children, our projects make available:

• improved maternal health services (see above)
• access to quality primary healthcare services.
• health education and sensitization to improve household hygiene, expand use of ITN (insecticide treated nets), improve nutrition, and implement exclusive breastfeeding to six months and supplemental feeding to 24 months.
• Initiatives to improve sanitation facilities and ensure access to safe water.

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF MATERNAL MORALITY IN NIGERIA?

In rural Nigeria the vast majority of women give birth at home without the supervision of qualified medical personnel. Maternal deaths in Nigeria are caused by hemorrhage, obstructed delivery, unsafe abortion, infection, and hypertensive disorders. Studies have found that that 2/3 of maternal deaths could be prevented if women had access to family planning.

To save the lives of mothers we bring:

• access to skilled birth attendants and well equipped facilities.

• comprehensive ante-natal care services for early detection of danger signs during pregnancy, tetanus vaccine, preventive therapy for malaria and iron supplements.

• sensitization to increase awareness and acceptance of family planning.

• access to trained family planning counselors and a choice of contraceptives

• health education programs to reach women in remote communities

WHAT IS OUR APPROACH?

Our program involves a close partnership with the community, government and local organizations. The initiative, ownership and management lies with the local population, who assists through communal labor, participation in health education programs and contribution of local resources whenever available locally. The government is helping with staff and support for infrastructure. AMURT focuses on community mobilization, material support for the facilities through construction materials, furniture, medical equipment, medicines and supplies. We also organize and implement additional training for clinic staff, health education and outreach programs in the communities. Finally we sponsor initiatives to improve sanitation and access to safe water.

HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT THE PROJECTS ARE EFFECTIVE ?

Low overhead: The overhead expenses for the project have been covered by a major donor. Additional donations received will go directly to the people.

Community driven: As a matter of principle, we engage only in projects that are initiated by the communities and that are an expression of their felt needs and own priorities. The communities need to demonstrate their commitment before we take the final decision to engage.

Reaching the remote and neglected areas: We choose to go where government and other agencies have not gone. This ensures that our efforts reach those with the deepest needs.

Evidence based: Our approach consists of proven interventions recommend by W.H.O. policies. We closely monitor and evaluate the impact of the projects on the health of the population.

Sustainability model: The projects are long term and promote true community development. The emphasis is on capacity building on the local level. We work to build models that are sustainable and carefully avoid creating unhealthy dependency.

Direct link to the field: We give regular reports from all activities in the field with stories and photos so that donors can have the clear feeling and understanding of what is going in the villages.

HEALTH CARE TO 24,000 PEOPLE THROUGH 3 NEW COMMUNITY CLINICS

Since starting work in Ebonyi State in September 2010, we have opened three community clinics in Offia Oji, Epheniyum, and Omege, all in Abakaliki Local Government. This was made possible by building a dynamic tripartite partnership with the communities, government and local NGOs. The population in 34 villages has, for the first time, access to quality maternity and ante-natal care, family planning and general medical out-patient and in-patient services. The response has been exceptional. The health center in Offia Oji is now so busy, (see left) we are now preparing to expand the facility to accommodate the demand.

10 MORE CLINICS BY 2013 – SERVING THE MOST NEGLECTED POPULATION Our target is to open ten additional clinics in Ebonyi State before the end of 2013. Altogether we will reach well over 100,000 of the poorest and most isolated people in the remotest communities in Ebonyi. We are committed to ensure that the clinics operate with the standard required to save the lives of mothers and children. We are also assisting the communities to get access to safe drinking water and improve sanitation facilities.