Seadogs Champion Maternal, Newborn Health in Kaduna

By Uangbaoje Alex, Kaduna, Nigeria

The Kaduna Chapter of the National Association of Seadogs (NAS), also known as the Pyrate Confraternity, has joined a global movement to raise awareness about maternal and newborn health, launching a week-long campaign to celebrate World Health Day.

The awareness campaign, with the theme: “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures (Maternal and Child Health)” to mark the 2025 World Health Day which began with a road walk from Sabo GRA down to Sabo Tasha Market, aims to address the challenges women face during pregnancy and childbirth, particularly in underserved communities. 

Flyers with messages such as “pregnancy and life with a newborn baby. The good health of mothers and babies is everybody’s responsibility and importance of immunization for every child,” were distributed.

As part of the initiative, members of the association are also donating basic medical supplies to local hospitals in an effort to ease the strain on both patients and healthcare providers.

Speaking during the campaign on Saturday in Kaduna, an official of the association Dr. Okpara Obinna, emphasized the emotional and physical toll that a lack of support can have on expectant mothers.

“We’ve seen women dropped off at hospitals by their partners, left alone to endure childbirth. This kind of abandonment not only affects their mental state but can also disrupt basic processes like breastfeeding, which is vital for newborns,” he said.

Obinna highlighted that the campaign is part of a broader strategy backed by data and research on maternal mortality, especially in developing regions. 

According to him, NAS’s intervention seeks to reach vulnerable women, those battling poverty, domestic abuse, or social stigma who often avoid hospitals due to fear or lack of resources.

“This effort is not just about awareness,” Obinna noted. “It’s about action. No child deserves to be abandoned. Every mother deserves care, support, and access to proper medical services.”

The association also commended the Kaduna State Government for its provision of free maternal and child healthcare but called for more consistent attention from health officials nationwide.

The NAS, often misunderstood by the public, also used the campaign to clarify its mission and values. Contrary to widespread belief, the group says it is not a cult but a global network of professionals and activists committed to social justice, education, and community development.

“In the past years, we’ve met with traditional leaders across Kaduna to explain who we are,” Obinna said. “We stand for equality, unity, and service.”

As the week-long campaign ended today, the Seadogs hope their efforts will not only save lives but also change minds about both maternal health and the identity of the fraternity itself.