In a country like ours, one could say that being a woman can sometimes be hard. From dealing with systemic gender bias to fighting sexist stereotypes, women sometimes are faced with numerous challenges. While some of these challenges have gotten some much needed mainstream attention over the years, one critical issue that has crept under the radar is the many struggles undergone by women during childbirth.
Pregnancy and childbirth are life’s most joyful expectations. However, in many instances, these end in tragedy and anguish for families and friends when neonatal mortality – maternal or newborn deaths occurring during childbirth or shortly after from related complications – happens.
Research shows that Nigeria has a current maternal mortality ratio of 576 per 100,000 live births, and a neonatal mortality rate of 37 per 1000 live births. These are staggering numbers worthy of concern as the current realities are dire. Fortunately, data generated from countries with better medical facilities has revealed that these numbers can be improved.
It is therefore evident that such improvements are often associated with a country’s socio-economic development. Does this therefore mean that third world countries are doomed? Does this mean Nigerian women have to risk their lives consistently? These and more, are questions that plague the minds of expecting mothers across Nigeria.
As a leading total beverage company, Coca-Cola remains committed to refreshing the lives of people around the world while making a difference in the communities it serves. This commitment transcends providing refreshing beverages across its markets, it is all-encompassing as it also entails investing in the wellbeing of people around the world.
Over the years, this passion has birthed several initiatives focused on measurable impact; some of these initiatives include 5 by 20 women economic Empowerment, World Without Waste, Replenish Africa Initiative (R.A.I.N), among others. One of such initiatives that has gathered national acclaim is the Safe Birth Initiative (SBI).
The Safe Birth Initiative (SBI), which aims to support the realization of the SDG goals on maternal and neonatal mortality, focuses on strengthening the capacity of selected public hospitals through procurement of vital maternal and neonatal medical equipment as well as providing training via renowned biomedical engineering technicians.
Through the SBI, the company hopes to equip public health institutions with lifesaving equipment as well as promote effective maintenance culture by empowering our own biomedical engineering technicians with the knowledge and skills for ensuring maximum uptime of new equipment provided and the rehabilitation of abandoned biomedical equipment in these hospitals.
The Coca-Cola Safe Birth Initiative is a social investment from Coca-Cola Nigeria in partnership with Medshare International, the Federal Government through the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, and the Federal Ministry of Health.
Speaking on the initiative, the Business Unit Public Affairs, Communications & Sustainability Director, Coca-Cola West Africa, Clem Ugorji, said, “the Safe Birth Initiative is a part of the company’s wellbeing program to support the efforts of the Government in reducing the alarming numbers of women and newborns who die from birth-related complications every day. The initiative was born out of the company’s desire and effort towards building sustainable communities that will ensure mums and babies come home alive”.
Coca-Cola has donated Sixteen 40-foot containers of medical equipment, kits and supplies with more on its way to these public health institutions. Some of the beneficiary hospitals who have had its equipment and supplies fully installed and commissioned include; National Hospital Abuja, Federal Medical Center Ebute Metta, Alimosho General Hospital, Federal Medical Center Owerri and Wesley Guild Hospital Ilesha. Upcoming installations have been scheduled for the University Teaching Hospitals in Ilorin and Port Harcourt.
Speaking on behalf of the Governor of Lagos State, Governor Babajide Sanwo – Olu, at the handover ceremony of the equipment in Alimosho General Hospital, the Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Mrs Folasade Jaji said: “The Lagos State Government commends and thanks the management of Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited for this very wonderful initiative aimed at strengthening our capacity to address the issue of maternal and newborn mortality in Nigeria.”
The initiative through its partners, Medshare International, has also trained over 150 technical/biomedical engineers across these health institutions. These provisions are particularly significant in Nigeria where access to quality medical care is limited and sometimes unavailable to pregnant women who cannot afford them. With an investment of about 4 billion Naira, this has significantly transformed the health sector as medical care is set to get better with the Safe Birth Initiative being rolled out subsequently to other state hospitals across the country.
Coca-Cola remains at the forefront of women empowerment consistently supporting initiatives that help achieve this goal. The company’s global 5by20 initiative, launched 10 years ago, aims to economically empower 5 million women by 2020. As at the end of 2019, 4.6million women have been empowered under this initiative, of which over 400,000 are Nigerian women as Coca-Cola is well on its way to achieving this goal by the end of 2020.
The Safe Birth Initiative, therefore, ties into the women empowerment vision of the company as a crucial vehicle to help drive change in the country.
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