Lagos moves to tighten regulations on traditional birth attendants
The Lagos State Ministry of Health has convened a High-Level Stakeholders’ Meeting to regulate the activities of Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) in the state.
The meeting brought together key policymakers, health professionals, and regulatory bodies to develop strategies for ensuring TBAs operate within established guidelines and contribute effectively to safe childbirth practices.
Present at the meeting were the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi; Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. (Mrs.) Kemi Ogunyemi; Chairman, Lagos State Health Service Commission, Dr. Atinuke Onayiga; Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye; and Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Ibrahim Mustafa. Also in attendance was the Permanent Secretary of the Health Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA), Dr. Abiola Idowu.
Discussions at the meeting focused on standardizing TBAs’ training curriculum, defining their scope of operations, establishing a seamless patient referral system, and enforcing compliance with health regulations.
Experts emphasized the importance of equipping TBAs with modern obstetric knowledge to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates.
Other notable attendees included the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service, Dr. Bodunrin Osikomaiya; Chairman of the Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria (Lagos chapter), Prof. Abidoye Gbadegesin; and Chairman of the Lagos State Steering Committee on MPDSR, Dr. Donald Imosemi.
Also present were the Registrar of the Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board, Prince Babatunde Adele, as well as representatives from the Paediatric Association of Nigeria (PAN), National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), and the World Health Organization (WHO), all of whom provided insights into the risks and benefits of TBA services.
Other stakeholders at the meeting included the Medical Director of Lagos Island Maternity Hospital, Dr. Femi Omololu; Director of Family Health and Nutrition, Dr. Folashade Oludara; Director of Healthcare Planning, Research, and Statistics, Dr. Jumoke Oyenuga; Director of Nursing Services, Mrs. Sola Aketi; and Mrs. Beatrice Makinde, Director of LASAMBUS.
At the end of deliberations, a 15-member committee was established to review the operations of TBAs and the broader scope of traditional medicine practice in Lagos State.
The committee, comprising representatives from key health organizations, was tasked with assessing existing challenges, proposing regulatory measures, and submitting a comprehensive report for evaluation by a larger stakeholder assembly.
