THE UNSUNG WOMEN HEROES OF NIGERIA WRITTEN BY IFEOMA NWOBODO

Adepeju Jaiyeoba: Enabling Pregnancy With “Mother’s Delivery Kit”

The Nigerian woman is insidiously known by a number of stereotypes that does her no favour. In many instances, she is not expected to have an opinion on many issues. And, if heard, she is not expected to be seen. That is how society has come to put a lot of pressure on the ambitious woman. She cannot aspire to positions like her male counterparts. Which, I am tempted to say, probably explains the reason for the huge disparity in the number of men and women in virtually every aspect of life.

Some have argued that women are not doing much for the society to be considered as making impact. Yet, there is sufficient evidence of the great work that Nigerian women are doing to help the nation in different areas. There are so many unsung women heroes in Nigeria. They abound in the grassroots, and it is time we placed them and their work on an elevated pedestal for the world to behold. I have found many young Nigerian women who are doing amazing work in different spheres of human endeavor. 

In these series, I shall be looking at some of these women in order to celebrate their impact. Come along, as we start with the story of Adepeju Mabadeje Jaiyeoba who is helping Nigerian pregnant women with her “Mother’s Delivery Kit” initiative. She recently shared her excitement on the social media for joining D-Prize as a winner in their Global Health category and receiving their support to reach even more women and children across rural communities in Nigeria.

Adepeju received her LL.B from the Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife in 2007 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2008. But her passion is about making a difference in the lives of women and girls across the world, as well as working to ensure Nigeria takes the health of women and children more seriously. Statistics say about 40,000 women die during pregnancy every year in Nigeria. That’s a huge waste. However, this became a reality for Adepeju when she lost a close friend to childbirth complications and the delay in getting skilled help to her in 2011.

Recalling the incident that jolted her into action, Adepeju said:

"My friend’s death puts a face behind every statistic on maternal death I have seen – and that was my turning point. It made me realise how dangerous childbirth has become and how our best are dying giving life.

Realising that every woman is at risk – and that it could be me anytime, if I do nothing about it, I decided to start my own organisation. Unlike many who see death at childbirth as destiny, I see myself and every woman as potential victims.”

So, Adepeju started the Brown Button Foundation, a nonprofit organization that trains birth attendants in the rural villages. So far, Brown Button has trained more than 8,000 birth attendants, who provide health care to expectant mothers during pregnancy and childbirth. However, she quickly realized mothers-to-be needed more than advocacy, and that their attendants needed more than training.

In 2013, Adepeju launched Mother’s Delivery Kit, a social enterprise that provides sterile supplies for childbirth. Each kit costs around $5, and the company employs some 85 people. This initiative is not only helping to save women and babies but also bringing income to the people who make and distribute the kits. More than 20,000 kits have been produced to date.

According to Adepeju:

“In the course of heading my organisation, I have watched traditional birth attendants (TBAs) force feed, with herbs, women who can only be saved by surgery. I have seen hospitals attempt to revive septic women referred too late. And I have witnessed friends die due to lack of facilities and delay in getting skilled attention.

I have seen unskilled TBAs boast of over 250 ante-natal patients while health centers with skilled workers struggle to keep 50 patients. I have watched facilities rot while corruption blooms. All these motivated me to form my organisation."

Jaiyeoba’s efforts have recorded some very encouraging numbers, even though she has had to overcome a lot of challenges. When she first shared her delivery kit idea with a colleague, she was warned not to give up her prestigious job as a lawyer. So, in desperation, after two months she approached her pediatrician brother for advice. That, began the work – with savings from her legal work.

Jaiyeoba created and sent 200 sample kits to different communities with a view to getting feedback to improve the product. She found out that birth attendants in other parts of the country had different practices and preferences. As a result, the new organisation assembled a new kit that they hoped the majority of Nigerians would embrace. They made one major adjustment: to include olive oil because many Nigerians in the rural areas rub both the mother and baby in the oil for spiritual protection.

After creating a coveted product, she needed to find a better way to get it to the people. As she began to rethink her supply chain, grant money from the U.S. African Development Foundation came in to help in establishing distribution points in central and eastern Nigeria. That meant the delivery kits no longer needed to leave from Lagos, making them more accessible to people in rural areas.

In 2014, Jaiyeola became a Mandela Washington Fellow. She has used her friendships with other fellows to expand her reach. She is working with a Ghanaian fellow, Laud Ampomah Boateng, to provide delivery kits in districts across Ghana. She has also created a mobile platform focused on prenatal care, child rearing and infertility with Jean-Patrick Ehouman, a fellow from Côte d’Ivoire.

In May 2015, Jaiyeoba was invited to pitch her idea at a White House event as one of five emerging entrepreneurs showcasing the impact of U.S. government initiatives. It also set the stage for the upcoming Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Kenya. The event gave her a chance to look back on the obstacles she faced. Now she admonishes others that: “You can actually build business models around social problems.”

Next time, we shall look at another young Nigerian lady making real impact in the lives of people.

 

 

 Source: HeroesRealLife