Lagos Moves To Tighten Regulations On Traditional Birth Attendants

In a bid to improve maternal and child health outcomes, the Lagos State Ministry of Health today convened a High-Level Stakeholders’ Meeting focused on regulating the activities of Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) in the state. The meeting brought together key policymakers, health professionals, and regulatory bodies to deliberate on strategies for ensuring TBAs operate within established guidelines and contribute effectively to safe childbirth practices.

Present at the meeting were 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; Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Ibrahim Mustafa, mni; and Permanent Secretary, Health Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA), Dr. Abiola Idowu.

Other notable attendees included the Executive Secretary, Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service (Dr. Bodunrin Osikomaiya), Chairman of the Lagos sector of the Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria (Prof. Abidoye Gbadegesin), and Chairman of the Lagos State Steering Committee on MPDSR, Dr. Donald Imosemi.

Discussions at the meeting centered on the regulation of TBAs’ activities, with emphasis on standardising their training curriculum, defining their scope of operations, establishing a seamless patient referral system, and enforcing compliance with health regulations.

Also present at the meeting were the Registrar of the Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board, Prince Babatunde Adele, as well as representatives from the Paediatric Association of Nigeria (PAN), Dr. Ekundayo Ajayi-Obe; the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Lagos Chapter, Christiana Adeboboye and the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Salifu, all of who contributed expert insights on the risks and benefits of TBA services.

Also, in attendance were the Medical Director of the Lagos Island Maternity Hospital, Dr. Femi Omololu; Director of Family Health and Nutrition, Dr. Folashade Oludara, Director of Health Care Planning Research and Statistics, Dr. Jumoke Oyenuga; Director of Nursing Services; Mrs. Sola Aketi and Mrs. Beatrice Makinde, Director of LASAMBUS.

Stakeholders at the meeting raised concerns about maternal and neonatal complications resulting from unregulated TBA practices. They emphasised the importance of equipping TBAs with modern obstetric knowledge to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates.

At the end of the deliberations, a 15-member committee was set up to review the operations of TBAs and the broader scope of traditional medicine practice in Lagos State. The committee, comprising representatives from the Lagos State Ministry of Health, SOGON, PAN, LSTMB, NANNM, LSBTS, WHO, and other stakeholders, was tasked with assessing existing challenges, proposing regulatory measures, and submitting a comprehensive report for evaluation by a larger stakeholder assembly.

With maternal health a priority on the state’s health agenda, the Lagos State Government remains committed to strengthening healthcare delivery and ensuring that all childbirth services – whether in hospitals or through TBAs – adhere to safety standards. The outcomes of this review process are expected to shape policies that will enhance maternal and child healthcare while maintaining a balance between traditional and modern obstetric practices.