Building Bridges Between Traditional and Modern Healthcare
In a groundbreaking community health initiative, Access Heart Foundation recently conducted Basic Life Support (BLS) training for Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) in Ikorodu, Lagos State, which is home to the largest TBA community in Lagos. This vital program represents our commitment to strengthening healthcare capacity at every level, recognizing that saving lives requires equipping all healthcare providers with essential emergency response skills.
Why Traditional Birth Attendants Matter
Traditional Birth Attendants play a crucial role in maternal and neonatal healthcare across Nigeria, particularly in communities where access to formal healthcare facilities remains limited. These dedicated healthcare workers are often the first responders in medical emergencies, attending to births and providing care in situations where every second counts.
In Ikorodu alone, hundreds of TBAs serve their communities daily, bridging gaps in healthcare access and providing culturally sensitive care to expectant mothers. However, many lack formal training in emergency response procedures that could mean the difference between life and death during critical moments.
A Strategic Partnership for Community Health
Working closely with the State Coordinator and Zonal Chairman of the TBA community in Ikorodu, Access Heart Foundation designed and delivered comprehensive BLS training tailored to the unique contexts in which TBAs operate. This collaboration ensured that the training addressed real-world challenges these healthcare providers face in their daily practice.
The partnership approach was essential to the program’s success. By engaging community leadership from the outset, we ensured:
- Cultural Relevance: Training methods and scenarios reflected the actual environments where TBAs work
- Community Buy-In: Leadership endorsement encouraged participation and validated the importance of formal training
- Sustainable Impact: Strong community structures support ongoing skills practice and knowledge sharing
- Respectful Integration: Recognition of TBAs’ valuable experience while enhancing their emergency response capabilities
Comprehensive BLS Training Program
Our training program equipped Traditional Birth Attendants with critical life-saving skills, including:
Core BLS Competencies:
- Recognizing cardiac and respiratory emergencies
- Performing high-quality chest compressions
- Delivering effective rescue breaths
- Understanding the chain of survival
- Coordinating emergency response and referral
Maternal and Neonatal Focus:
- Identifying cardiovascular complications during pregnancy and childbirth
- Recognizing signs of maternal cardiac distress
- Emergency response for newborns with cardiac complications
- When and how to seek immediate advanced medical care
Practical Skills Development:
- Hands-on practice with training mannequins
- Scenario-based learning reflecting real community situations
- Team coordination and communication during emergencies
- Proper documentation and reporting procedures
Training Impact and Outcomes
The response from the TBA community was overwhelming. Participants demonstrated:
- High Engagement: Active participation in practical demonstrations and scenario-based learning
- Skill Acquisition: Measurable improvement in BLS technique performance
- Confidence Building: Increased confidence in recognizing and responding to emergencies
- Knowledge Sharing: Commitment to training others in their networks
Many attendees shared that this was their first opportunity to receive formal emergency response training, despite years of service in their communities. The practical, hands-on approach allowed experienced birth attendants to build on their existing knowledge while learning standardized life-saving techniques.
Beyond Training: Building Sustainable Healthcare Systems
This initiative represents more than a one-time training event – it’s part of Access Heart Foundation’s broader vision of building sustainable, integrated healthcare systems that leverage all available community resources.
Our Comprehensive Approach Includes:
Community Health Integration:
- Connecting TBAs with formal healthcare facilities for referrals and support
- Creating pathways for emergency cases requiring advanced cardiac care
- Building collaborative relationships between traditional and modern healthcare providers
Ongoing Support:
- Providing reference materials and job aids for continued learning
- Establishing communication channels for questions and guidance
- Planning refresher training sessions to maintain skills
Systems Strengthening:
- Documenting successful integration models for replication
- Advocating for recognition and support of TBAs in the formal healthcare system
- Creating referral networks that benefit entire communities
The Ripple Effect: Impact Beyond Ikorodu
The success of this training program has implications far beyond the immediate participants. Each trained TBA:
- Serves multiple families in their community
- Can train others in basic emergency recognition
- Represents a critical link in the emergency response chain
- Contributes to building more resilient community healthcare systems
By empowering Traditional Birth Attendants with BLS skills, we’re creating multiplier effects throughout communities. When a TBA recognizes a cardiac emergency and responds appropriately, they’re not just saving one life – they’re protecting families, preserving livelihoods, and strengthening the entire community’s health resilience.
Looking Forward: Scaling Community Health Impact
The Ikorodu TBA training program serves as a model for how healthcare organizations can work effectively with community health providers to expand access to life-saving interventions. Access Heart Foundation is committed to:
Expanding Training Reach:
- Replicating this model in other Lagos communities
- Extending training to additional traditional healthcare providers
- Developing train-the-trainer programs for sustainability
Strengthening Referral Networks:
- Creating clear pathways from community care to our cardiac facilities
- Establishing communication systems for emergency consultations
- Building relationships that support seamless patient transitions
Advocating for Community Health Workers:
- Promoting recognition of TBAs and other traditional providers in formal healthcare systems
- Supporting policy changes that integrate community health providers
- Sharing evidence of successful collaboration models
A Call to Collaborative Action
This training initiative demonstrates what’s possible when modern healthcare organizations recognize and respect the vital role that traditional healthcare providers play in their communities. Rather than viewing traditional and modern medicine as competing systems, we embrace a collaborative approach that leverages the strengths of both.
We invite other healthcare organizations, government agencies, and community groups to join us in:
- Supporting training and capacity building for community health providers
- Creating integrated referral systems that serve all community members
- Advocating for inclusive healthcare policies
- Investing in sustainable community health infrastructure
Acknowledgments
Access Heart Foundation extends deep gratitude to:
- The State Coordinator and Zonal Chairman of the Ikorodu TBA community for their partnership and leadership
- All participating Traditional Birth Attendants for their dedication to serving their communities
- Our training team who delivered excellent, culturally sensitive instruction
- Community leaders who supported and facilitated this important initiative
Join Our Mission
At Access Heart Foundation, we believe that accessible healthcare requires meeting communities where they are and empowering those who serve on the frontlines of care. Our work with Traditional Birth Attendants in Ikorodu represents our commitment to building inclusive, sustainable healthcare systems that leave no one behind.
Support Our Community Health Initiatives: Learn more about our training programs and how you can support community healthcare capacity building across Nigeria.
About Access Heart Foundation
Access Heart Foundation operates Northern Nigeria’s first comprehensive cardiac care center, addressing critical healthcare gaps through innovative service delivery, capacity building, and community partnerships. Our mission extends beyond our facilities to strengthen healthcare systems at every level, ensuring that all communities have access to life-saving cardiac care.
One Heartbeat at a Time