Pecohub The Abia state government says it will arrest patrons of traditional birth attendance (TBA) to reduce the high maternal mortality rate in the state.
Governor Alex Otti, who announced this at the functionalisation of Primary Healthcare Centres in Okpuho Npka and Umuenyere Alayi, all in Bende Local Government Area, said no pregnant mother has any excuse for such patronage.
Governor Otti, who was represented by the Commissioner for Health, Professor Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, said the essence of the establishment of the PHCs was to prevent deaths from curable diseases in various wards of the state.
He regretted that Nigeria has a 30% rate of maternal mortality in the world and encouraged them to make effective use of PHC in their localities.
Earlier in his address, the Chairman of Bende Local Government Area, Deacon Uwabunkeonye Bassey, urged people of the various wards to take ownership of the health facilities to ensure total security of the centres.
In their separate goodwill messages, the Executive Secretary, Primary Healthcare Centre in Abia State, Dr Ulu-kalu Ulu, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma, who is an indigene Alayi, thanked the governor for establishing the PHCs and gave the governor full assurance of safeguarding the facilities.
For his part, the traditional ruler of Umuenyere Alayi, Eze Iheke Uche, and an expectant mother, Mrs Nkiruka Osondu, thanked the governor for the installation of the facilities and appealed for the deployment of medical doctors and nurses for efficient service delivery.
