No fewer than 2,000 traditional birth attendants (TBAs) have been trained on pregnancy complications by the Ogun State Ministry of Health.

A statement by the ministry’s information officers, Ebunlomo Taiyese and Adeniyi Akinbobola, at the weekend stated that the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Babatunde Ipaye, noted that the training became necessary in order to reduce the rate of morbidity and mortality rate of mothers and child deaths during child-bearing.

According to the statement, the trainings were carried out in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNFPA.

Ipaye listed pregnancy complications to watch out for as prolonged labour, bleeding during pregnancy and bridged positioning of the child, among others.

The commissioner added that should the complications mentioned persist in any pregnancy, the TBA handling such issues has been trained to quickly refer it to the nearest General Hospital close to her.

“Because some of our people, particularly the rural dwellers, believe and have trust in TBAs is the reason why we took it upon ourselves to engage them in training on complications during and after pregnancy in both the child and mother. They should quickly refer the patient to the nearest general hospitals if the complications mentioned above persist in any of their patient,” Ipaye said.

The commissioner was further quoted as disclosing that since the trainings commenced, Ogun State has recorded great reduction in maternal and child deaths.