Enugu state Governor, Dr Peter Mbah has expressed displeasure with the high rate of Maternal and New Born mortality in the country, saying that his administration will take a radical approach to eradicate the ugly trend in the state.
The Governor who frowned at the statistics of 522 maternal mortality per 100,000 births and over 216 new Born mortality per 1,000 infant births said the fiqures were unacceptable and strategic programs must be put in place to curb the trend,through a collective effort .
He spoke while declaring open a Five-Day “Training Of Trainers(TOT) Master Training for Doctors/ Nurses on Maternal and New Born Care” organised by the Enugu state Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, LDS, held in Enugu on Tuesday..
Pix- Deputy Gov Ossai
Represented by the Deputy Governor, Ifeanyi Ossai, Governor Mbah commended the immediate past Deputy Governor of Enugu state, Hon. (Mrs) Cecilia Ezeilo for her efforts in attracting the Latter Day Saints to partner Enugu state Government in the development of various sectors in the state . He said the former Deputy Governor informed him of the Church’s interventions in the areas of health, education, sinking of boreholes and other.imterventions..
Mbah assured that his administration will continue with the good works of the immediate past administration led by Rt. Hon.(Dr) Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
He lamented the statistics of maternal mortality of 522 per 100,000 births and over 216 New Born deaths per 1000 infact births, saying, “we must deal with this problem and eradicate it .”
The Governor announced his administration’s plans to create access to healthcare delivery to all citizens of Enugu state. He said that they planned to roll out a health insurance scheme for all. His words, “As a Government, we are working with strategic patners to ensure that every person in Enugu state will be covered by health insurance scheme .
He added that tools/ equipment were needed to make the health sector work and when they have the tools, personnels to operate the tools would also be needed, hence the essence of the training.
He commended the immediate past administration, saying that they did well in the health sector and the present administration will continue with the good works.
“We are dealing with the problem.We are reviewing what had happened in the past. We are trying to build on the success of the past Government. We need your corporation to succeed . We will do things differently,” Governor Mbah said .
He frowned at the selection of directors and Chief medical directors as participants,saying, the participants should be the medical personnels who have direct contact with the patients and not those in administration.
“If we must succeed, we must get right the approach. The training of this nature should have participants who are the actual healthcare providers”, we need people who have direct contacts with the patients,”he said .
The Governor therefore, directed the ministry of health to immediately enlist medical doctors and nurses to participate in the training ,saying , they were the people who treat the patients.
” You cannot restrict such a training to directors in the ministry, to Chief Medical Directors who run the administration of hospitals. We need people who deal with our patients, so they can get the training,’ the Governor said.
He noted that they were the people who can train others and use that training in their operations .
“We need people who are dealing with the patients. It cannot be business as usual. Our approach in government is to be direct, to save cost, but above all to have impact in whatever decisions .we have made, Governor Mbah said “.
He thanked the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints for their support and urged them to sustain what they have for the state. He promised that the Enugu state Government will continue to partner with the church and build a stronger relationship..
Earlier, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Elder Dr Chidi Udechi said that the Church ,through it’s charity arm had patnered Enugu state Government for more than six years .
He added that they worked with the immediate past Deputy Governor, Hon(Mrs) Cecilia Ezeilo and had renovated over 15 health centres and provided over 25 boreholes in Enugu communities. Udechi thanked the State Governor, Dr Mbah for identifying with the Church and continuing with the good works of the past administration.
Udechi said that the maternal, newborn mortality rate in the country alarming. He said that the statistics disclosed that 522 women die out of every 100,000 births and over 216 new Born die in every 1000 infant births.
He expressed confidence that the program will help in reducing the maternal and New Born mortality in Enugu state.
Others who spoke at the event were Dr Fred Langeland, Head of Maternal and New Born Care, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Dr Okechukwu Ossai , Principal Administrator , Enugu Hospital Management Board among others.
Participants were drawn from various hospitals in Enugu.The training which started on Monday ,July 17 will end on Friday, July 21,2023 .
Autjor: Maureen Ikpeama