As much as 80 per cent of Nigerians, especially the low and middle income earners either rely on traditional health provider or combine the orthodox with the traditional. In many cases, a good proportion of this number depend almost exclusively on the traditional means for their health needs.
Indeed, so ubiquitous is the activity of the traditional health providers that government is even registering those of them that meet certain parametres with a view to setting a standard for them. This is particularly the case for traditional midwives who assist women in labour to have their deliveries. In many cases, they do this successfully.
At Iseyin, a town of about three hours west of Lagos, former Nigerian capital, an ASETO official, on a different mission, 'stumbled' on a cleric who is also into healthcare provision for those in need. He claimed that he gives enlightenment women for pregnant women who came to him on antenatal and postnatal care, among other health-related services. ASETO collaborated with him on Sunday May 4, 2008 to streamline a seminar and to ensure that the trusting and simple women are properly guided so that the health information they are fed with is not such that would complicate, rather than ease their situation.
The experience and testimonies of participants bore our position out. The event was such an opener in its enlightenment purpose and the ideas that were exchanged that participants and the clerics wanted it to be a weekly affair if possible. We thought this might be possible. We tried to give it a trial, but logistics - time and finance, especially in the face of other contending demands - are a threat.
The near four hour seminar entitled ASETO AND ALFA YUSUF ALAGBO ENLIGHTENMENT PROGRAMME FOR THE PREGNANT WOMEN alerted us to the immensity of Nigerian health situation especially as pertaining to mothers and babies in many respects.
You shall read details of this Enlightenment Programme in our subsequent postings.
Please view some of the visuals from the enlightenment programme.