It was a gathering of Who-is-Who in Nigeria’s medical field when experts gathered in Lagos on Monday.
Venue was the prestigious Radisson Blu Hotel, GRA, Ikeja where stakeholders held a Dissemination Workshop
on the Implementation Research for Intravenous Iron Use in Pregnant and Postpartum Nigerian Women (IVON-IS).
The project was aimed to test strategies to strengthen routine screening for anaemia during and immediately after pregnancy and conditions necessary within the health system to deliver IV iron to pregnant and post-partum women with moderate to severe anaemia, iron deficiency anaemia, which is a major concern in Sub-Saharan Africa including Nigeria, in pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum.
The research team members included experts from the Maternal and Reproductive Health Collective (MRH) and College of Medicine, University of Lagos, led by Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Prof. Bosede Afolabi.
There were also Operations Officers from the Centre for Clinical Trials, Research and Implementation Science (cctris), Co-Investigators and Medical Officers.
At the workshop were Dr. Opeyemi Akinajo, Dr. Mobolanle Balogun, Dr. Ejemai Eboreime, Dr. Aduragbemi Banke-Thomas, Dr. Sijuade Sanusi, Dr. Adebola Oyeniyi, Dr. Gladys Ohiomba, Dr. Anthonia Echeruo, Dr. Yusuf Adelabu, Dr. Abimbola Bowale and Dr. Adesunmbo Odeseye.
Others included Dr. Babatunde Oduola-Owoo, Pharmacist Blessing Onyemere, Mrs. Damilola Onietan and Mrs. Rachel Thompson.
Registration of participants at the well-attended event was coordinated by Mrs. Temitope Audu.
There were presentations on IVON-IS Project Findings and Video Testimonials.
There was also an exhibition of the IVON-IS Project.
The workshop was important because in
2019, global anaemia prevalence was 29.9% in women of reproductive age, 29.6% in non-pregnant women of reproductive age and 36.5% in pregnant women.
The participants were told that routine anaemia screening and use of oral iron supplements for anaemia treatment during pregnancy and postpartum “is limited by poor compliance and other health system factors.
Adherence to oral iron is reportedly low in Nigeria because of side effects and forgetfulness. Intravenous (IV) iron such as ferric carboxymaltose, which can be given as a single dose, might help overcome some issues relating to adherence but the possibility of implementing its use in our setting needs to be evaluated”.
It was also revealed that the Implementation Research for intravenous iron use in pregnant and postpartum Nigerian women (IVON-IS) commenced in 2023.
It was funded by the Gates Foundation and it was conducted in six healthcare facilities in Lagos State Namely:
- Federal Medical Centre, Ebute-Metta Hospital, Lagos.
- Harvey Road General Hospital, Lagos.
- Ebute-Metta General Hospital, Lagos.
- Akerele Primary Healthcare Centre, Lagos.
- Kensington Adebukunola Adebutu Foundation Medical Laboratory and Maternity Centre.
- Havana Specialist Hospital Limited, Lagos.
Key stakeholders, including policymakers, healthcare providers, and community leaders, at the workshop, discussed the study’s findings and implications for improving anaemia care in Nigeria.
The workshop featured presentations from the research team, panel discussions and interactive sessions, providing a platform for stakeholders to share their experiences, challenges and suggestions for scaling up effective interventions.
The study’s findings highlighted significant improvements in anaemia screening rates and IV iron administration among pregnant and postpartum women at the study’s healthcare facilities, demonstrating the potential for sustainable impact.
Stakeholders also pledged to work together to implement the study’s recommendations, ensuring that all pregnant and postpartum women have access to quality anaemia care.
There was also the urgent need for effective treatment options beyond traditional iron tablets for anaemia in pregnant and postpartum women in Nigeria, which is affecting over 50 per cent of expectant mothers.
Prof. Afolabi, the Principal Investigator of IVON-IS Research, said anaemia also “increases the risk of infections, postpartum depression, poor wound healing and cognitive impairments in newborns”.
She said recognising the dire consequences, IVON-IS Research emphasised the routinisation of screening for anaemia, using point-of-care tests, which deliver haemoglobin concentration results within minutes.
Speaking on the prevalence of anaemia among expectant mothers, Prof. Afolabi noted that while the national average for moderate to severe cases falls between 10 per cent and 20 per cent, certain regions record higher rates, reaching up from 30 per cent to 40 per cent.
“Anaemia in pregnancy is a major health concern in Nigeria, often linked to poor nutrition, malaria and inadequate prenatal care. Left untreated, it can lead to complications such as preterm birth, low birth weight and increased maternal mortality,” she stated.
Afolabi, who is also the Director, cctris, said the research “advocates the use of intravenous iron therapy, particularly ferric carboxymaltose, as a more effective treatment for moderate and severe anaemia”, saying IVON-IS Research does not only identify effective interventions, but also focuses on integrating the treatments into Nigeria’s healthcare system.
Dr Opeyemi Akinajo, a
Co-Investigator at IVON-IS and Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), highlighted an effective treatment for maternal anaemia, a condition, she said, was affecting 45 per cent of pregnant women in Nigeria.
Another Co-Investigator on the IVON-IV project, Dr Mobolanle Balogun, highlighted the cost-effectiveness of intravenous iron therapy compared to blood transfusions, which require longer monitoring periods and are often constrained by limited blood supply.