Aviva Women in Science Fund Project: Screening of Pregnant women the Wum Health District as a strategy to increase uptake of antenatal consultation in the Northwest Region
Adequate antenatal consultation during pregnancy is vital in preventing maternal and neonatal mortality. Due to the sociopolitical crisis in the North West Region of Cameroon, many families have become internally displaced, some have lost their daily source of income, access to healthcare has drastically reduced.
The rate of ANC uptake is about 60% which very low. As a strategy to increase uptake, we organized a free screening (Urinary tract infection, Malaria, preeclampsia) of pregnant women in the Wum Health District (had the second highest maternal deaths in the Region in 2021). This was to create an avenue to meet those who have never started ANC, thus creating a first contact with healthcare professionals and ensuring follow up of these women.
We screened 166 pregnant women, and out of that 79 women had not started ANC (47.6%). That’s almost 50%. It ranged from 2 months to 9 months. From this, we recorded cases of malaria with one severe form that was admitted and placed on medications. The others were managed as outpatients. Secondly, some identified with mild to moderated hypertension in pregnancy were given a follow up visit to do a control.
30 pregnant women benefited from free ultrasound scans, from which some complications like breech in pregnancy was identified. A woman, who came complaining of decreased fetal kicks, was evaluated and reassured of the good fetal well-being of her unborn baby.
A common complication that occurs during pregnancy is anemia induced by pregnancy. Thanks to the North West Regional Delegation of Public Health for the folic acid they provided: this was given to all pregnant women, some for one month and others for 2 months depending on their gestational age.
At the end, women who had not started antenatal consultations were all linked to a community health worker and to nearby health centers in their respective locations to ensure continuation of care.
A big thanks to Cristina Bernardo Kullberg , Hans Kullberg , Blaise Buma and James Akaba for this opportunity, and to the entire Open Dreams Family.
Thanks to Dr. Ambe Lionel, NW Focal Point person for Sexual and Reproductive Health, Dr. Elome, District Medical Officer of Wum Health District, Dr. Nkeh Edmond, Director of Wum District Hospital, Dr. Beri Bella, Doctor at Wum District Hospital, Mr. Mukoh Walters, Community Mobilizer TPWDN, The Staff of the Wum District Hospital, Ayoni Elizabeth, Chifu Elizabeth, Loveline Tangang, Wani Caroline, Wandji Charles, Rukayatu DanAsabe, Muun Berinyuy,Hadija Ibrahim.
Above all we thank God Almighty for giving us the opportunity to serve.
Dr. Gwanyama Noella
Medical Doctor, Regional Hospital Bamenda,
Founder of TPWDN
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