Osun Traditional Birth Attendants pledge support to JDPMC to end Mother to Child transmission of HIV.

Not less three hundred Traditional/Community Attendants across twenty four Local Governments in Osun State namely Atakunmosa East, Atakunmosa West, Boluwaduro, Boripe, Ede North, Ede South, Egbedore, Ife central,Ife East, Ife North, Ife South, Ifelodun, Ila, Ilesa East, Ilesa west, Obokun, Odo Otin, Ola-Oluwa, Olorunda, Oriade and Osogbo  have thrown their weight behind the Justice Development and Peace Makers’ Centre (JDPMC) Osogbo in the quest  to prevent mother to child transmission  of HIV.

The Traditional Birth Practioners gave this assurance during five days capacity building for traditional/community birth attendants on the Roles of TBAs in the Prevention of Vertical Transmission of HIV organized by the Justice Development and Peace Makers’ Centre, Osogbo with support from Vastenactie Netherlands.

According to them “the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV is sacrosanct which no society must take with levity especially at the current prevalence and burden of HIV in Osun State.  This training by the JDPMC is a commendable initiative that must be applauded and adopted by other non-governmental organizations and key stakeholders in the health sector across the length and breadth of the state.

The onus is now on us to prove the purpose of the training by putting into full practice what we have learnt here today and that we shall justify in our various communities by God’s grace. We also appreciate Justice Development and Peace Makers’ Centre for the opportunity afforded us in serving our community better.”

Speaking, the facilitators of the training Mr.Dare Adeoye and Mrs.Awoyemi described midwifery as a lifesaving profession that required highly technical manpower, the duo therefore charged the participants to always subject themselves to better training that would measure them up to the standard within the confines of their job while saving the lives of the mothers and babies through their understanding of when to refer patients quickly when necessary.

In their remarks, the Programme Supervisor, Mrs.Akande Juliet and Programme Officer, Mrs.Damilola Arowolo of the JDPMC noted that “traditional beliefs on care of pregnant women still hold in high esteem, this is why we are taking this dimension, given to the fact that they are very close to the grassroots people and their role in stamping out mother to child transmission of HIV cannot be overemphasized. We strongly believe this training will generate chain of positive multiplier effects as the scope of the objective stipulates.”