NDDC Trains 300 Traditional Birth Attendants to Reduce Maternal, Newborn Deaths
Oluwafunbi Bello 
PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria – The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has trained more than 300 traditional birth attendants from Delta and Bayelsa states to improve maternal and newborn healthcare and reduce preventable deaths across the Niger Delta region.
The training was conducted under the Federal Government’s Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative and focused on safe delivery practices, early detection of pregnancy complications and prompt referral of high-risk cases to health facilities.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the NDDC Director of Corporate Affairs, Seledi Thompson-Wakama, the Commission said the programme was designed to strengthen collaboration between traditional birth attendants and the formal healthcare system.
Speaking at the workshop, NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, represented by the Principal Manager, Education, Health and Social Services, Mrs Dare-Oloko Kuami, described maternal and child mortality as a major public health concern. He said the training would equip participants with skills to identify complications early and refer difficult cases to hospitals for specialised care.
The Director of Education, Health and Social Services, Dr Patience Ezugu, represented by Dr Otokolo Fidelis, said participants also received medical equipment and financial support to improve maternal healthcare services within their communities. One of the facilitators, Mrs Gift Akitiri, stressed that continuous capacity building remains essential because traditional birth attendants serve as trusted healthcare providers in many rural areas.
The initiative is part of the NDDC’s broader strategy to improve maternal and child health outcomes by strengthening referrals, promoting safer childbirth practices and enhancing collaboration between community-based caregivers and healthcare facilities.
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Abah Felicity 
Edino Chubiyo Cornelius 
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