The Lagos State Primary Health Care Board has received a proposal from the Lagos sector of the Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria for a Voluntary Obstetricians Scheme intended to strengthen specialist support at primary healthcare facilities and help reduce maternal and newborn mortality.
The proposal was presented during an advocacy visit by a SOGON Lagos Chapter delegation led by its chairman, Professor Abidoye Gbadegesin. The scheme would deploy experienced obstetricians and gynaecologists on a voluntary basis to primary healthcare facilities across Lagos State, bringing specialist expertise closer to frontline maternal and newborn services.
Under the proposed arrangement, participating specialists would provide mentorship to healthcare workers, support clinical audits, strengthen emergency response and assist with the management of obstetric and newborn complications. The initiative is intended to improve the capacity of primary healthcare facilities to identify and manage complications and to support appropriate clinical decisions.
Responding to the presentation, LSPHCB Permanent Secretary Dr. Ibrahim Akinwunmi Mustafa commended SOGON for proposing a structured, community-oriented intervention. He said maternal mortality could not be addressed by a single institution working alone and expressed the board's readiness to provide an institutional framework for collaboration.
Mustafa said bringing specialist knowledge directly to primary health centres could save valuable time during obstetric emergencies. He proposed establishing a technical working group to develop an operational framework and pilot programme, with initial facilities to be identified across Lagos's IBILE divisions and referral pathways strengthened.
The next steps outlined by the board and SOGON include jointly constituting a technical committee, finalising operational guidelines, selecting pilot facilities and establishing referral arrangements. These steps remain preparatory; the proposal's impact on maternal and newborn outcomes will depend on implementation, service coordination and the effectiveness of the resulting clinical support system.