Rebecca Oke is making important impression within the Nigeria’s healthcare sector, significantly in maternal and baby well being. Her dedication to bettering well being outcomes for moms and youngsters has gained world recognition for her analysis and digital options reworking breastfeeding and maternal care within the nation.
In a latest briefing with journalists, she harped that bettering maternal and baby well being in Nigeria requires evidence-based interventions, stronger group assist, and insurance policies selling unique breastfeeding.
“Our moms and infants deserve sensible, scalable options that bridge information gaps, strengthen household assist, and empower healthcare suppliers,” she famous.
Oke’s pioneering analysis in Lively Administration of the Third Stage of Labour has knowledgeable nationwide reforms in nursing training and maternal well being apply.
Her landmark examine in Osogbo, performed with the College of Ghana, uncovered crucial gaps in midwives’ adherence to postpartum hemorrhage prevention protocols.
She emphasised in her assertion that ”steady skilled coaching and strict coverage enforcement are important to closing these gaps and saving lives.”
Her most transformative contribution is the Breastfeeding Assist App (BFSAPP) and the Prepared for Breastfeeding Programmes, a blended digital and community-based intervention designed to enhance unique breastfeeding charges in Nigeria.
Constructed on behavioral science and group engagement, BFSAPP gives moms real-time lactation assist, peer networks, family-inclusive instruments such because the Fathers’ Nook, and steady training by means of cell expertise.
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Findings from her community-based randomised managed trial present the intervention’s impression: 98.6 p.c of moms within the intervention group expressed a optimistic perspective towards unique breastfeeding in contrast with 77.5 p.c within the management group; 78.6 p.c recorded excessive breastfeeding self-efficacy in opposition to 42.3 p.c within the management; and 82.9 p.c sustained unique breastfeeding with out method supplementation in contrast with 49.3 p.c within the management group.
“These outcomes reinforce the significance of accessible training and assist techniques in bettering breastfeeding outcomes,” she mentioned.
With Nigeria’s unique breastfeeding price nonetheless under 30 p.c, Oke confused the necessity for stronger coverage assist, together with six-month maternity go away, office crèches, and improved antenatal breastfeeding training.
She additionally referred to as for the Prepared for Breastfeeding Programmes to be thought of as a nationwide framework for maternal and toddler diet.
She additional urged authorities, healthcare suppliers, and NGOs to strengthen community-based lactation training and put money into long-term, family-inclusive assist buildings.
“Collaboration throughout sectors is crucial to cut back maternal and toddler mortality and guarantee more healthy outcomes for our youngsters,” she added in her assertion.
A registered nurse, midwife, public well being nurse, and midwife educator, Oke’s tutorial journey spans the College of Fort Hare in South Africa the place she obtained PhD in maternal and Baby Well being Nursing, the College of Ghana for her MSc Nursing Science and Ladoke Akintola College of Expertise for her Bachelors of Nursing Science.
Her work continues to encourage nurses, midwives, researchers, and policymakers, demonstrating that homegrown Nigerian improvements can contribute meaningfully to world maternal and baby well being.
