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108 residents, including pregnant women, nursing mothers, children and men, benefitted from free medical screening and maternal healthcare sensitisation at Idi-Araba Market in Surulere, Lagos State, during a “Mama and Child Market Outreach” programme organised to promote safe motherhood and improve access to basic healthcare services at the grassroots.
However, the intervention expanded to accommodate other immediate healthcare needs among men and other market residents who turned up for medical consultations, check up and drugs.
Speaking during the exercise, Dr. Jegede said the initiative became necessary due to the growing need for maternal health education and preventive healthcare services, especially among traders and low-income earners who often lack access to adequate antenatal information and medical support.
She explained that the programme was designed to educate women on the importance of early antenatal registration, regular medical check-ups, proper nutrition and healthy pregnancy practices, noting that poor maternal health awareness remains a major contributor to preventable pregnancy-related complications.
According to her, the outreach aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.1, which seeks to reduce global maternal mortality and improve access to quality healthcare services for women and children.
The Team Lead stressed the need for sustained community-based interventions to improve maternal and child health outcomes across the country.
“Many women are unaware of the dangers associated with poor antenatal care and delayed medical attention during pregnancy. This outreach is aimed at creating awareness on maternal health challenges and the need for preventive healthcare at the grassroots level,” she said.
Representing the Surulere local government inspector (LGI), Mrs. Adewole Motunrayo, the Assistant LGI, Sanyaolu Mojisola, commended the organisers, describing the programme as a timely and impactful intervention targeted at improving maternal and child healthcare awareness.
She urged other NYSC corps members to embark on meaningful community development projects capable of addressing pressing societal challenges and improving residents’ welfare in their host communities.
Most of the beneficiaries described the initiative as timely and beneficial.
One of the beneficiaries, Morufat Adio, who is currently pregnant with her second child, said the free screening exercise helped her better understand her health condition and encouraged her to seek proper medical attention where necessary.
Another beneficiary remarked that the outreach came at the right time, noting that the medical team helped refill her prescription after her medication had run out.
The organisers also urged pregnant women to prioritise routine antenatal care, maintain healthy lifestyles and seek professional medical attention during and after pregnancy.
