Posted on: Fri 22-11-2024

Clincal Lead at Babies Matter Medical Centre (BMMC), Dr Zainab Mudasiru and Co-founder of the facility, Dr Efunbo Dosekun have advocated quality care for preterm babies, irrespective of their birth circumstances or location.

Speaking at a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit’s graduation for two babies born at 25 weeks recently, Dosekun noted: “Preterm babies are tiny babies. Caring for them can be quite difficult, especially if they are less than 28 weeks and a lot of times, it’s a twin pregnancy or triplet pregnancy, where these babies come out early.

She recalled, “About 20 years ago, the death rate for premature babies was high but with the advent of modern technology and better understanding of these tiny babies, things are getting better for the good.

“At BMMC, we have an advanced Neonatal Intensive Care Unit with specialised medical personnel and the service we render is not different from what you will get in developed countries like the UK or the U.S. We are ready to work with the government and partner with them to save the lives of more preterm babies,” Dosekun said.

Speaking further, she disclosed that the essence of the graduation is to celebrate the babies brought to the facility at 25 weeks, explaining that 40 weeks is the normal duration for ideal babies and any baby born under 37 weeks is premature.

Dosekun further insisted that Obstetrics and Gynecology doctors, midwives and baby doctors must partner to achieve excellent results. “It is what you do in the first ten minutes when preterm babies are brought that will determine if they survive or have disabilities. So, we must partner to achieve international best standards,” she added.

Mudasiru identified poor remuneration as one of the reasons medical practitioners leave the country. It is estimated that over 5,000 Nigerian doctors have fled the country.

To her, doctors have families, and they need to pay bills, saying passion for the job made her return home, she urged the government to equip its hospitals to function optimally.

The parents, Mr and Mrs Kunle Adeosun, thanked the doctors and other members of staff for their relentless efforts. He recalled, “We got married 18 years ago. In 2012, we had a child but in 24 hours, he left. So, 12 years after, something similar was going to happen. It’s either God does it or not.”

SOURCE: GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER

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