Reducing Maternal Mortality in Northern Nigeria

WE CARE: Women’s Emergency Communication and Reliable Electricity

Laura Stachel, School of Public Health

Why Nigeria?

• 11% of the world’s maternal deaths

• >1100 deaths per 100,000 live births

• Lifetime risk of dying as high as 1 in 13

The Three Delays

Home Transport Hospital

Labor and Delivery

Operating Theatre

Life Threatening Delays

Inadequate Lighting

WE CAREWomen’s Emergency Communication and Reliable Electricity

Solar Electricity to…

….provide reliable lighting

….enable mobile communication

….power equipment

Operating Room Design

“Solar Suitcase”

• Immediately Operational

• Portable• Economical• Safe

Demonstration to Hospital Staff

Impact of LED light Medical Documentation

Before

Medical DocumentationWith LED Headlamps

Impact of LED lightNursing Care

Before After

Impact of LED lightsSurgical Care

Before After

Testing Two-way Radios

Improved Care

• Improved Communication– Immediate Contact– Reduced Delays – Patient Status Updates– Less Referrals Out

• Improved Lighting– Increased Visibility– Increased Ease of

Procedures – Increased Safety

Future Directions….

• Install permanent PV system in hospital

• Install blood bank refrigerator

• Purchase two-way radios and

LED headlamps

• Develop “solar suitcase” model

• Scale up to other facilities

Special Thanks to Our Funders…

-Big Ideas @ Berkeley-Blum Center for Developing Economies-Bixby Program in Population, Family Planning & Maternal Health