Elevating Women's Voices for Quality Maternal Health Care

One of the Art Pieces at the Celebrating Womanhood Art Gala hosted by Nigeria Health Watch

by Cynthia Umeh

The Nigeria Health Watch (NHW) organized the second edition of the Celebrating Womanhood Art Gala, focused on "Elevating Women's Voices for Quality Maternal Health Care." The gala aimed to raise awareness of maternal health issues among stakeholders beyond the health sector, encouraging guests to engage with art, participate, and begin finding solutions to Nigeria's maternal health challenges. 

Art has long been recognized as a powerful medium for social change. From music to theater to the visual arts, artists have been using their creativity to convey messages that inspire and educate people about important issues. In recent years, the use of the creative arts has gained popularity as a means of raising awareness about maternal healthcare.

Maternal healthcare is a critical issue that affects the lives of women and children worldwide. Unfortunately, access to quality maternal healthcare remains a challenge for many women, particularly those living in low-income countries. This is where the creative arts can play a crucial role.

Here are some key takeaways on how the creative arts can raise awareness about maternal healthcare:

• Accessibility: Creative arts can reach a wide audience, including those who may not have access to traditional forms of health education and information. Art can be used to convey complex health information in a simple and engaging way.
• Advocacy: Creative Artists can advocate for policy changes and increased investment in maternal health programs. They can also tell compelling stories about maternal health, which can help raise awareness about the importance of quality maternal healthcare.
• Integration of Women's Voices: Creative arts can be used to showcase the struggles of women. By integrating women's voices into their art, artists can help to amplify the voices of women and highlight their experiences.
• Maternal and Perinatal Death Indices: The implementation of Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) is critical to identifying the underlying causes of maternal and perinatal deaths. This information can then be used to develop and implement interventions to prevent future deaths.

Through the creative arts, people can learn about the challenges faced by pregnant women and new mothers  and the importance of quality maternal healthcare.

Art is another way to change behavior. With more information, art can inspire people, such as pregnant women, to seek prenatal care or promote breastfeeding.

The use of the creative arts is an effective way to raise awareness about maternal healthcare. By leveraging the power of art, we can educate people about the importance of quality maternal healthcare and inspire them to take action to improve the health of mothers and children worldwide.