Law week: FIDA FCT adopts Gwarinpa general hospital labour ward

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The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Abuja branch, has adopted the labour ward of the Gwarinpa General Hospital to support and give intervention in areas of need in order to reduce maternal mortality and other maternity issues amongst indigent women. 

International Director FIDA Ezinwa Okoroafor, made this known Friday, during its hospital visit and adoption of FIDA Abuja ward at Gwarinpa General Hospital, as part of activities to mark the 2022 FIDA (Nigeria) Abuja branch Law week with the theme theme: ‘Addressing the concept of gender justice in Nigeria.’

Okoroafor said the gesture became imperative to save lives of women who face the  risk in giving birth which she described as service to the nation, stressing that no woman should loose her life while contributing to national development.

“As part of FIDA adopt a ward initiative FIDA Abuja is considering the Labour ward and I thought that it’s apt because each time a woman gives birth she puts her life on the line . 

“Giving birth is a service to the nation to national development so we don’t want a situation where a woman puts her life on the line because she wants to contribute to nation building and that’s why we are adopting this labour ward and FIDA is contributing in ensuring that every woman who gives birth as much as possible, the incidents of death arising from giving birth and other maternity issues is reduced,” she said.

“While FIDA adopts a ward we call on well meaning Nigerians within and outside Abuja to come together to see what can be done to improve the facilities here because where the hospital works the society is better for it and everybody benefits ; women, children and men also.

“FIDA exists to protect the interests of women and children and this is based on the realization that the happiness of the home and strenght of society depend on the wellbeing of women and children so when women and children are happy the home is happy and the society is better for it,” she added.

She further reiterated the need for victims of Gender Based Violence (GBV) to always speak out and get help, regretting that perpetrators have continued to increase because a lot of cases were underreported due to stigmatization. 

“Women should not listen to platitudes or give in to pleas when they suffer GBV because when we allow the laws take its course and people are properly sanctioned for doing the wrongful thing then the likelihood of a repeat is reduced. So we advise women to speak up so that whoever violates is appropriately sanctioned,” she stressed.

Earlier, the chairperson FIDA Abuja branch, Chibuzor Maureen Nwosu, assured of taking the labour ward as their responsibility to help from time to time, adding that the choice of that particular hospital is because lots of indigent women from Karmo, gwagwa, Idu axis use the hospital. 

“We choose this hospital because a lot of indigent women needing help assess this hospital, we come to create awareness with regards GBV and we have taken notes of some of the needs of the hospital which we will follow up to support.

“Government should try their best in helping the general hospital because most indigent masses come here and they can’t afford private hospitals so it should be equipped and adequate provisions made for it,” she said.

While receiving FIDA,  the Chief Medical Director and consultant gynecologist,  Halima Bello, disclosed that many victims of GBV assess the hospital.
She however expressed worry that they most times don’t speak out to get the right help for fear of stigmatization. 

“We see a lot of patients that suffer gender violence and a lit of patients don’t want to talk for stigmatization and some families also shield victims but I think victims should speak out so they can get help because we have sap centers and special units to handle such cases.

“We are honoured to know that FIDA have interest in the health system we appreciate that they have pledged to assist women in the maternity ward and other structural challenges in this facility. 

“Government cannot do this alone, when we’ll meaning NGO’s and philanthropists come to help Government to do things it’s laudable and a lot will be achieved. There is a lot of commitment by the government but doing more is not too much to ask for,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Chairperson FIDA Abuja 2022 law week 

Chioma Onyenucheya Uko , said the visit is in line with the humanitarian component of FIDA to give charity, adding that adopting the Labour ward was to support government ensure that women enjoy the best  medical care particularly during childbirth.

Blueprint reports that the hospital has structural challenges such as licking roofs, dampness, small sized wards, tight space, including the lack of adequate medical equipments for the teeming patients that visits the facility daily.

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