By Kemi Akintokun
Lagos, Dec. 13, 2025 (NAN) – In the heart of Ijedodo, a community where access to consistent healthcare remains a daily challenge, a recent outreach event offered more than just supplies; it provided a critical bridge to survival for 100 pregnant women and nursing mothers. The Steer for Change Mother and Newborn Foundation executed a comprehensive health intervention, targeting the root causes of Nigeria’s persistently high maternal and infant mortality rates.
Mrs. Kikelomo Adisa, Founder of the NGO, framed the initiative not as a one-off charity event, but as a strategic component of a broader mission. “Our goal is to promote the health and well-being of vulnerable women in underserved areas,” Adisa clarified, emphasizing the systemic nature of the problem. “This program is designed to sensitize women on essential measures during and after pregnancy to ensure safe delivery and directly reduce preventable deaths.”
The distribution of items was meticulously planned to address both immediate and underlying risks. Birth kits empower women for cleaner deliveries, while mosquito nets combat malaria—a leading cause of maternal anemia and low birth weight. The inclusion of nutritional staples like rice, groundnut oil, and cereals for babies over six months highlights a holistic understanding: maternal health is inextricably linked to food security and infant nutrition.
“The stark reality is that many of these women have limited or no access to formal healthcare systems,” Adisa explained. “This gap in access is what compels us to bring services directly to them.” The foundation’s model involves regular community visits to monitor blood pressure, track pregnancies, and provide essential health education—practices that can identify life-threatening conditions like pre-eclampsia early.
Since its founding in 2019, Steer for Change has scaled its impact significantly, supporting over 6,000 women across 20 communities. This growth underscores a sustained, replicable model. Adisa credited partners like the Georges Memorial Medical Centre, whose support enables the foundation to extend its reach beyond simple outreach to include more intensive interventions.
These interventions are multifaceted. Beyond the outreach, the foundation runs women’s empowerment programs, provides targeted nutrition support, and crucially, pays hospital delivery bills for indigent mothers. This last point is vital; the fear of catastrophic out-of-pocket costs often deters women from seeking facility-based care, pushing them toward riskier alternatives.
Adisa issued a dual call to action for systemic change. First, she urged the government to ensure “unhindered access to healthcare” through strengthened primary health systems and financial protection schemes. Second, she advocated for the “continuous training and engagement of birth attendants,” recognizing them as the trusted, first-point-of-care in these communities. Integrating traditional birth attendants into the formal health network is a proven strategy for improving referral pathways and outcomes.
During the Ijedodo event, beneficiaries received more than goods; they underwent health screenings for blood pressure and glucose levels and received counseling. They were also educated on the non-negotiable importance of antenatal and postnatal visits and hygiene practices to prevent infections—a leading cause of maternal mortality.
The gratitude expressed by the beneficiaries was palpable, reflecting the profound value of being seen and supported. The work of Steer for Change illuminates a path forward: combating maternal mortality requires moving beyond sporadic aid to integrated, community-centric models that address the medical, economic, and social determinants of health simultaneously.
KOA/ISHO/KOO
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Edited by Yinusa Ishola/Kevin Okunzuwa
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