Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has officially functionalised the Okpuhu Nkpa and Umuenyere Alayi Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in Bende Local Government Area, increasing the total number of operational PHCs under his Project Ekwueme initiative to 42.
During the commissioning event, Governor Otti announced plans by his administration to clamp down on traditional birth attendants and those who continue to patronize them, citing concerns over public health and safety.
He emphasized that the initiative signals the end of more than 24 years of neglect in the state’s healthcare sector, highlighting the ongoing renovation and construction of health facilities aimed at improving the well-being of residents across Abia State.
Represented by the Commissioner for Health, Professor Enoch Oggbonnaya Uche, he listed some of the features in the Primary Health Centres as multiple multi-parameter monitors, automatic external defibrillators, incubators, oxygen cylinders and oxygen delivery devices, among others.
Otti also announced that his administration has approved the establishment of an Isolation Centre at the popular Uzuakoli Leprosy Centre to manage isolation cases.
He said that Nigeria contributes 29 per cent of maternal mortality in the world and urged the people to patronise the PHCs rather than quacks or traditional birth attendants.
“One of the major causes of maternal mortality is delivery by unskilled workers. And that includes traditional birth attendants who have not been trained and certified to provide that level of healthcare service,” said Otti.
Also speaking, an indigene of Alayi and Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma, assured that the people would not allow the facility to be vandalised.
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