Smi Profile 1

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One WorldOne People United in Progress

Headquaters.Sweet Mother International (SMI) and World Youth

Empowerment Association (WYEA) Incorporated

8 leyden Court, Salisbury Downs, South Australia 5108,

Australian Website:

http://www.sweetmotherinternational.org ;

http://www.wyea.org

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +61 420783412 Amanda Tel: +61 449061457

John

Abuja Nigeria.

Sweet Mother International (SMI)Suite 38/39,Nkwegu Plaza,Area 1 Garki.FCT Abuja,Nigeria.

http://www.nigeria.sweetmotherinternational.org/abuja

Email: [email protected]

Tel:+234-7067155491-Adeshina

SweetMotherInternational
http://www.wyea.org/http://www.nigeria.sweetmotherinternational.org/abujahttp://www.nigeria.sweetmotherinternational.org/abujahttp://www.wyea.org/


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SweetMotherInternational 2011

2 Email:ab uja@swe etmotherinte rna tiona l.org

SAVE PROJECT

Picture -Broke n Prom ises Published by Center for Rep roduc tive Rights
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


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Table of Content

Contents Page1 Organisational Overview 7

2 SAVE Campaign project 8

3 Aims and Objective 84 Campaigns in Abuja 11

5 The SMI Puublication 15

6 The SMI Volunteers 23

7.0 Appendix 27

7.1 The Root causes of maternal Death 28

7.2 Key Intervention 29

7.3 The needs of typical African Community 29

7.5 Stakeholder 30


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1 ORGANISATION OVERVIEW

Sweet Mother International (SMI) a non political, non profit and non-governmental organisation with its headquarters in Australia and branches in

several African countries including Nigeria .The SMI's vision is to participate with

the world communities to achieve the millennium development goal, particularly,

the United Nations' call to reduce maternal mortality by 75 per cent in 2015.

Brief History About SMI

The idea of Sweet Mother International is dedicated to Madam Salomey Nze, 1904

- 1986, Imo State Nigeria.

Madam Salomey Nze, despite her predicament as a young widow with over six

teenage children, She founded a home where she accommodated and fed women

who were widows like herself, aged women, old-women-without-children,

destitute women and women with mental illness. She was also a counsellor to

newly married couples and young women. She acted as a mediator in times of

dispute between families, assisting to restore peace, love and affection in homes.

She was so devoted in her fellowship with God and humanity that she was

regarded as an "Angel " in her community. She died in 1986.

In the year 2000, this vision was regenerated by the idea of Sweet Mother

International which was conceived by, John Nze-Bertram the grandson of Madam

Salomey Nze.

Sweet Mother International recognizes Mothers as the conscience and the "Pillars

of Nations". Women are the fertile ground in which humanity is grown. Any nation

seeking progress takes seriously the development of women virtues since mothers

are the primary source of vision for a peaceful and prosperous society.JOHN NZE-BERTRAM , PRESIDENT, SWEET MOTHER INTER-NATIONAL,

MAY 5, 1990


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2 SAVE CAMPAIGN PROJECT

The SAVE Campaign aims to raise the awareness of the increasing maternalmortality in Nigeria and to call on government, organisations and individuals to

take action.

In fact, the World Health Organisation report indicates that, over 600,000

pregnancy related deaths takes place in Africa each year and that Africa accounts

for more than 50% .It is also disheartening to know that Nigeria records the

highest rate of maternal mortality in the world after India.

Our campaigns and rallies in Nigeria show clearly, that the issue of maternal deathis rampant in rural areas of Nigeria and the menace is even more prevalent in the

north-eastern part of Nigeria. with an average annual death rate of 64,000/year.

Sweet Mother International fundamental objectives is to celebrate motherhood

and to assist expectant mothers living in disadvantaged communities to maintain

good health during and after childbirth.


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3 AIMS AND OBJECTIVE

SHORT TERM OBJECTIVES SAVE

1. To organize rallies, media campaigns, TV Talk Shows in order to highlight the

plight of women in Africa, particularly, the avoidable deaths of women from

treatable pregnancy complications.

2. To call on governments and stakeholders to intervene in reducing maternal

mortality rates in Africa; particularly, to call on African governments to provide

free obstetrics care for women.

3. To mobilise support, donations and care for rural women in Africa, including

visits to obstetrics hospitals to show love to new and expectant mothers.

LONG TERM OBJECTIVES SAVE

4. To establish a Trust Fund to assist rural women with obstetrics care. To achieve

this, SMI will be collaborating with governments and stakeholders to provide afree and efficient obstetrics care to rural women in Africa. In Africa, many families

are poor and cannot afford caesarean operations in time of pregnancy breach;

having free obstetrics care will invariable save hundreds of rural women.

Also, the TRUST FUND will be used to:

5. Establish a Mobile Maternal Health Unit (MMHU) that will visit rural

communities to assess the health conditions of pregnant women, with a view to

identifying at the earlier stages of pregnancy, women at risk of developing

complications during childbirth. The MMHU comprises an ambulance equippedwith obstetrics equipments (Ultra Sound machines etc) and medical personnel.

6. Establish an Obstetrics Emergency Intervention Unit (OEIU) that will rescue

women experiencing complications from rural communities to a nearest obstetrics


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hospital. The OEIU comprises an ambulance or medic helicopters fitted with

obstetrics equipments and manned by trained obstetricians and midwifes.

AIMS ANDOBJECTIVEUPCOMING

Sweet Mother International will assist displaced or refugee mothers affected by

war or disaster SMI will provide volunteer services and provision of relief material

The organization also,will embark on rehabilitation and care for widow, destitute,

aged women and old-women-without-children. Mothers with HIV/AIDS will be as

sisted to regain confidence in their homes. SMI will provide these women with

basic resource, knowledge and tools to enable them cope with their challenges.

Sweet Mother International will assist pregnant women by organizing maternal

seminars and establishment of Trust Fund where women that have complication

during pregnancy or childbirth can be assisted. Young females will be tutored on

home building and positive attitude.

Sweet Mother International will honour mothers of prominent personalities who

have contributed positively to societal development. Such Mothers will have

hospitals, women development centers and other memorial monuments built in

their names. Also, biographies of these women will be compiled and developed

into resource materials as magazines, books, visual documentaries and e-resourcesMuseums will be established featuring the pictures, souvenirs and biographies of

these "Golden Mothers".


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Sweet Mother international will discourage prostitution, women battering, and

harmful cultural practices by organizing seminars, television programs,

reformative music & drama. The organization will also, encourages the youths to

love their mothers and honour them. Competitions will be organized where Youths

could win prices for their Mothers. Sweet Mother International will encourage

cultural, racial and religious tolerance by organizing sight-seeing expeditions, touri

sm, cultural ex-change programs and social interaction vacations among member

countries.

Sweet Mother International will examine and address critically the socio-economic

and political situations affecting Mothers from performing their primary role as

the epitome of love, care and hope in the home. The organization will emphasize

the importance of healthy motherhood to positive societal developmental change.


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10 Email:[email protected]

4 CAMPAIGN AROUND AFRICA

ABUJA

The Sweet Mother international has speared its campaign in Abuja to draw the at

tention of the teaming populace, corporate organisation and the government on th

e raving effects of maternal mortality in Nigeria.The event which was graced by di

gnitaries from the media, non governmental organisations, faith based organisatio

n among other dignitaries highlighted the statistics of maternal mortality in Nigeri

a and the causes and how it can be avoided.


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A c ross sec tion of volunteers at the program me held in the unity fountain

Abuja

A c ross sec tion of energetic youths say ing Never Aga in to maternal Mortality in

Africa
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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Youths who are ded ica ted in the Cam pa ign Aga inst Maternal Mortality.

Archb ishop John Onaiyekan of Catholic Archd iocese of Abuja, Nige ria ,

Forma lly gave his blessing at the Inauguration of Volunteers in Sab on-kawu a

Rem ote Village in FCT Abuja

The FCT Coordina tor of SMI,Pose for photograph with Chie f Bitrus

Tushi of Sabonkawu,Chief Peter Bala of Bjimi, Baba Gwari

(Community Elder) and a Youth and Children of Sab on-Kawu.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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A Community Determined and has resolve to Cam pa ign Aga inst

maternal Mortality r. Despite the Absenc e of Infrastruture, Clinics,

Water, Elec tric ity. But with Full of convic tion that someday,

somehow HELP will Come.

The Sweet Mother International Coordinators in Africa hosted series of successful

rallies in major African cities and villages. These rallies aim to raise awareness of

the need to stop maternal deaths in Africa.


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Rally activities include: processions to government, parliament and media houses;

hosting of maternal health workshops and seminars; establishing community

development projects ; donating of food, clothing and household items to orphans,widows, and hospitals; visiting traditional rulers - kings, chiefs and community

leaders to mobilise their support; offering of prayers for expectant mothers in

Churches, Mosques and other religious places to invoke divine protection from

pregnancy-related deaths; and several other programs

Che c k out m ore deta il about the 2011 Ra lly sc hed ule to hold in Abuja HERE you ma y

wish to partner with us or support us then send us an Email

Please see p revious ra lly pic tures and reports a t:

Nigeria: http://nigeria.sweetmotherinternational.org

Liberia: http://liberia.sweetmotherinternational.org

Ivory Coast: http://ivoire.sweetmotherinternational.org

Kenya: http://kenya.sweetmotherinternational.org
http://nigeria.sweetmotherinternational.org/eventmailto:[email protected]://nigeria.sweetmotherinternational.org/http://liberia.sweetmotherinternational.org/http://ivoire.sweetmotherinternational.org/http://kenya.sweetmotherinternational.org/http://kenya.sweetmotherinternational.org/http://ivoire.sweetmotherinternational.org/http://liberia.sweetmotherinternational.org/http://nigeria.sweetmotherinternational.org/mailto:[email protected]://nigeria.sweetmotherinternational.org/event


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6 SMI PUBLICATION

The African Amazons

Sweet Mother International magazine which is Titled The African Amazons is

designed to focus attention on women in Africa.

It is a quarterly Magazine that will place emphasis on the fight to reduce maternal

mortality in Africa, championing the cause of salvaging this ugly trend via thedissemination of cevents across Africa especially those in the rural Communities.

The African Amazons hopes to be the voice of the voiceless African women. More

so to x-ray the role of women in governance especially in Africa, health issues,

and championing the cause of women especially those in the remote villages of

Africa.

The essence of The Africa Amazon is to bridge information gap and finding soluti

on to the increasing number of maternal mortality in Africa.Also ,reporting all

SMI activities across Africa not restricting it only on the internet, where most w

omen in Africa may not have access to it.

Furthermore, the magazine will contain the aims and goals of SMI and it is our

hope that it will be distributed free to women in rural communities in Africa.


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The African Amazon will afford heads of government in Africa the opportunity in

knowing the plight and the true state of women in rural communities and finding

ways of empowering them .

PURPOSE OF THE MAGAZINE

Enlightening the unsuspecting populace on the need to campaign to reducematernal deaths in Africa

The magazine will contain the activities, projects, goals of Sweet MotherInternational across Africa

The magazine will serve as a guide to new and expectant mothers

The magazine seeks to find causes of pregnancy related deaths in Africa andproffer solutions in curbing the menace, most especially in rural

communities.

It will project the activities of rural communities especially areas wherehealth care facilities are near absent.

The magazine will be a tabloid that will contain updated reports fromcommunities and hospital across Africa

Using the Magazine as a medium of bridging information gap, it seeks to

call attention of NGO, Intergovernmental organisation, Philanthropists inchannelling their resources towards addressing the issue of maternal deaths

in Africa


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5 THE VOLUNTEERS OF SMI

PRESIDENT OF SMI

John Nze-Bertram , right, with his Exc ellenc y Mike Rann, Premier of South

Australia

John Nze-Bertram, the President of Sweet Mother International is a Sponsoring

Member of the Institute of Ethics and Leadership,Germany; Member of the United

Nations Society University of South Australia ; President of the African Chamber

of Commerce Incorporated South Australia; Australian National Coordinator of

Club OHADA - Organization for the Harmonization of Business Laws in Africa;

International Team Leader of the " South Australian Trade and Tourism Project

coordinating and networking with over 600 organizations worldwide.

He is also the Managing Director of Strategic Trades Services- Import & Export

Network -- an import and export brokerage company based in South Australia.
mailto::http://www.nigeria/sweetmotherinternational.org/abuja


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John Nze-Bertram is an alumni of South Australian Government Vocational

Education and Training (TAFESA) - Interlink Program; School of International

Studies University of South Australia; Commercial Law University of South

Australia; continuing studies at the School of Law, University of South Australia.

In South Australia, John Nze-Bertram served as a volunteer for a local council

where he assisted the physically challenged to acquire technical and social skills,

and to integrate into the community. In addition, he has participated actively in

advancing the African community development initiatives in South Australia.

For example: supporting the government's social integration program that aims to

promote multiculturalism and inclusiveness, John Nze-Bertram participated

actively in mobilizing the African community leaders to the South Australian

Parliament House on an invitation by the Honourable Speaker; followed by his

nomination as a special guest among Nigerian community leaders to a luncheon, at

the Parliament House, with the Attorney General of South Australia and Nigerian

High Commissioner;

Also recently, among other African community members in South Australia, John

Nze-Bertram was specially invited by His Excellency, Mike Rann, the Premier of

South Australia, to an occasion honouring the contribution of Africans to the

development of the State-( Pictures above);On other occasions, he has met, greeted

with a hand shake and discussed with several prominent Australians including his

Excellency,J. Howard,the former Prime Minister of Australia,and his Excellency,

Mr Hieu Van Le, the Chairman of the South Australian Multicultural and Ethnic

Affairs Commission (SAMEAC) and the Lieutenant Governor of South Australia.


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Mr. Nze-Bertram is a dedicated and versatile administrator, with several years of

experience among international not-for-profit organizations and private enterprises.

He possess extensive skills, knowledge and experience in strategic projectmanagement -planning,networking,analyzing,implementing,integrating,monitoring

and reviewing. Strong blend of managerial, professional and interpersonal skills.

Proven success working under pressure within stringent time frames and meeting

demanding targets. Capacity to make difficult decisions and achieve results.

Ability to achieve goals with limited resources and t o facilitate and complex

negotiation situations with across linguistically and culturally diverse groups.

He has pioneered the establishment of several organizations-political, religious

and civil organizations.He is a humble person with passion to serve humanity and

delights in helping people overcome challenging setbacks and to realize their goals

.

Hobbies:

As hobbies, John Nze-Bertram likes to play soccer, listen to music, and network

via virtual communities platforms. He also likes to travel and experience new

cultures.

Expectation

Through SMI-WYEA programs, John Nze-Bertram wishes to establish effective

networking and exchange partnership with like minded leaders of community

organizations with a view to advancing progress in Africa and helping to stop the

avoidable deaths of women from pregnancy complications.


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INTERNATIONAL PROJECT OFFICER

Amanda Scott

Amanda Scott is the International Project Officer of Sweet Mother International

(SMI) and the World Youth Empowerment Association (WYEA) Incorporated.

She is delighted to be a part of the campaign to Save African Women fromPregnancy-Related Deaths.

As a mother of three boys delivered by caesarean operations, Amanda has

experienced a near death experience as a result of her pregnancy complications;

albeit, the efficient obstetric care in her country, Australia, Amanda would have

been dead if she were living in a rural African community.

Amanda heart goes to all women in Africa, particularly, to the expectant mothers

who are unsure if they will have a save delivery.


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According to Amanda,here in Australia, the government takes adequate care of wo

men and childrens health. They even pay women up to $5000 after birth. We have t

he Royal Flying Doctors who airlifts pregnant women experiencing complications

from rural areas to an obstetrics hospital; the doctors among the team, can even ad

minister appropriate induced labour procedures to assist a safe delivery.

Amandas passion to assist maternal health in Africa is a motivating factor for her f

urther studies in the field of Medical Science. She has had a successful career in

Sales and Marketing and studies at the University of South Australia.

I am dedicated to this cause to Save African Women from Pregnancy Related

Deaths says Amanda. With SMIs ongoing programs in Africa, Amanda says I am

certain to visit someday soon to meet all the good people of Africa who are

supporting this campaign.


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execute building projects in difficult, remote, laid back rural settlements of

Nigeria.

According to him Working within remote communities, I observed that these

communities were grossly neglected by the Government; as a result, there existshigh rate of poverty, illiteracy and of course, very high maternal mortality

incidents.

He is an advocate of peace and enjoins each and every privileged member of our

society to cultivate the habit of extending a helping hand to our brothers and sisters

who have found themselves in these dangerous and life threatening conditions, as

exists in Nigerian rural communities.

He has resolved to lend his voice and by actively campaigning to save Nigerianwomen from poverty, illiteracy and pregnancy related deaths.


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Ag National Coordinator/Kwara State Coordinator

Alao Lad i

Mr Alao has several years of working experience ,He works with the Kwara state

Essential Drugs Project,Ilorin,A world bank Assisted Project .He had his National

Youth Service at Government Secondary School,Akwanga,Nassarawa State.

He was played a key role at the Kwara Eye Care Programmme, Civil Service

Hospital (A Sight Savers International [British NGO] Assisted program, )

He gets fulfillment by participating in volunteer programs. To him nothing is too

much to give back to humanity.He is perturbed by the rate of maternal mortality in

Nigeria . And he is willing to give supporting hands to ensure women are saved

from pregnancy related deaths.


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SWEET MOTHER RADIO/TV COORDINATOR

Olumide Akinwumi-Oke

Mr Olumide Akinwumi-Oke has Over 14 years experience in Customer / Clients

Management, Mainstream Sales / Marketing and Quality Management.For several

years Country Customer Services Manager of DHL Nigeria.

As an avid writer, he has extensive experience in acting, directing and film

production Produced both radio and television programmes including:

-Skye High (daily 5 minute motivational programme on radio presented by

the former Group Managing Director of Skye Bank),

E360 - entertainment full circle programme pan Nigeria,

Golden Pasta Cook n Win - cookery game show,

Kebani - tourism magazine show, Veleta Celebs! - celebration magazine show,

Power for the Wise - early morning inspirational show.

Has a special knack for documentaries and has done for several clients and groups.

Olumide holds a degree in law and has attended several trainings, locally and inter

nationally, on Marketing, Management and Television production.

His strength is in Directing, Planning and Organizing.

The SMI has lot of passionate,energetic and change oriented personalities spread

across the African continent.Check out SMI volunteers and coordinators Here
mailto:[email protected]://www.sweetmotherinternational.org/coordinators-1mailto:[email protected]://www.sweetmotherinternational.org/coordinators-1mailto:[email protected]


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7.0 APPENDIX

DEFINATION OF KEY TERMSMaternal Death:the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of terminationof pregnancy irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy, from any causerelated to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management, but not from accidental orincidental causes.

Late Maternal Death:the death of a woman from direct or indirect obstetric causesmore than 42 days but less than one year after termination of pregnancy.

Pregnancy-Related Death:death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days oftermination of pregnancy, irrespective of the cause of death.

Maternal Morbiditydescribes pregnancy- and childbirth-related illness and injury.

Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR):Number of maternal deaths during a given timeperiod per 100,000 live births during the same time-period.

Maternal Mortality Rate:Number of maternal deaths in a given period per 100,000women of reproductive age during the same time-period.

Adolescentsare those between 10 and 19 years of age.

. . . Nigeria, on a percentage basis, leads the world in maternal mortality

statistics. This is an unacceptable state of affairs which is largely traceable to

the leadership problem in the country. In a country where funds that are meant

for equipping hospitals and employment of doctors, especially at the tertiary

level, are routinely fraudulently misappropriated and shared by politicians,

the population, especially the women, cannot but pay dearly for lack of, and

inadequate medical facilities, during pregnancy and childbirth.

Daily Sun, Voice of the Nation, Worrisome Maternal Death Records.


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7.1 THE ROOT CAUSES OF MATERNAL DEATH

Eclampsia or pregnancy related hypertension

Haemorrhage / Bleeding

Infection

Sepsis Unsafe Abortion

Obstructed Labour

Indirect causes Aneamia,Tuberculosis,STDs,HIV/AIDs etc

According to The paper presentation by WHO, these are some of the major

barriers to appropriate obstetric emergency care (EOC) in the African Region.

These include:

frequent shortages or lack of medications, essential supplies and equipment;

inadequate blood transfusion services;

inefficient laboratory support services;

inadequate staffing, shortage of appropriately trained personnel and lack ofstaff supervision;

shortage of operating theatres for obstetric emergencies, resulting in delaysin surgical interventions;
mailto:[email protected]


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weak policy on delegation of authority for the management of obstetricemergencies, and

mismanagement of obstetric complications as a result of staff incompetence,

negligence or poor attitude. Timely access to appropriate obstetricemergency care (EOC) could avert 75% of these deaths, according to the

paper, which enumerates the delays on the pathway to appropriate care in the

Region.

These are: delay in seeking care in health facilities, delay in reaching appropriate

health facilities, and the delay between a pregnant woman's arrival at a health

center and the facility's response in providing appropriate care.

7.2 KEY INTERVENTION

Prevention of unwanted Pregnancy

The management of unsafe abortion

Promotion of skilled attendance in Pregnancy and child birth andimprovement of access to referral care when complications arise.

7.3 THE NEEDS OF A TYPICAL RURAL IN COMMUNITY NIGERIA.

Education of the rural dwellers

Equipping of rural clinics and health centers with facility and qualifiedpersonnel.

Availability of soft loans which will facilitate trades and thereby improve

the standard of living Provisions of water through the sitting of boreholes within the community.

Skill acquisition by setting up vocational centers within the community


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Sweet Mother International aims to celebrate motherhood and to assist

expectant mothers living in disadvantaged communities to maintain good health

during and after childbirth. In Line with this objective, The SMI and its partners

have embarked on series of the Campaign in major cities and rural places of

Nigeria and Africa at large. From our campaigns and interaction with the

people concerned, we have also highlighted some factors which have

contributed to these menace:

1. High and ever increasing rate of poverty.2. lack of infrastructure.3. Illiteracy.4. Cultural believe and tradition.

5. Corruption

7.4 STAKEHOLDERS

In order to achieve our set objective, we have indentified key stakeholders that are

responsible for the goal and success towards the achievement of low maternal

mortality in Nigeria and Africa at large.

GOVERNMENT

The government is a major stakeholder, and we hope that the government will

continue be open to recommendation outlines by globally acclaimed organisations

like WHO,DFID,USAID,SMI,JDPC among a host of other and will also outline

well laid out policy plan for its implementation.

PRIVATE AND NON PROFIT ORGANISATION

Civil societies should continue to lend their voice to the ills of our society and

should take strategic steps in mobilizing for the support, by calling on government

to act promptly and the community to do its bit by becoming socially responsible

citizens. Corporation are also expected to have their ears to the ground and be


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willing to offer support both morally and financially as a way of filling their

quota as a socially responsible corporations.

COMMUNITY

The Community is at the receiving end, and all hands should be on deck towards

the elimination of an ailment that is not only treatable but can also be avoided. The

SMI has embarked on series of campaign in various community in Nigeria and

Africa at large so as to enlighten the community member especially the expectant

mother on Global Best Health Practises and precautionary measures During and

after Pregnancy. Lot of people from the community including the

Doctor,Nurses,Teachers,Social health workers etc.