NEWS
REVOLUTIONIZING MATERNAL HEALTHCARE IN ABIA: GOVT ROLLS OUT RURAL EMERGENCY SERVICES AND MATERNAL TRANSPORT SYSTEM TO CURB MATERNAL AND NEONATAL MORTALITY
The Abia State Government, through the State Ministry of Health, has taken a bold and strategic step towards safeguarding the lives of mothers and newborns with the rollout of the Rural Emergency Services and Maternal Transport System across the state, an initiative poised to transform access to life-saving healthcare, especially in underserved rural communities.
Speaking at the official launch, the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, disclosed that the initiative is in line with the directive of the Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, whose administration has consistently prioritized the health and well-being of Ndi Abia through deliberate, people-oriented policies.
According to the Commissioner, emergency medical services play a critical role in determining the overall quality of life of any population. He emphasized that the newly introduced system is specifically designed to address and drastically reduce maternal and neonatal mortality rates across the state.
He explained that one of the leading causes of maternal deaths is the inability of pregnant women, particularly those in labour and newborns requiring urgent care to access health facilities with skilled personnel on time. To bridge this gap, the state government has embarked on comprehensive reforms, including retrofitting health facilities, recruiting qualified medical personnel, enhancing welfare packages, and creating incentives that are successfully attracting healthcare professionals to Abia.
Prof. Uche further revealed that the government is now intensifying efforts to strengthen access to these services, ensuring that those who need them most can benefit without delay. He identified three Local Government Areas: Obingwa, Bende, and Ukwa East, as high-burden areas for maternal mortality, noting that they form part of the 172 high-risk LGAs across Nigeria.
“As a strategic response, we have deployed ambulances to central locations within these LGAs to ensure that any woman in need of emergency transport can access services within 25 to 30 minutes or less,” Prof. Uche stated.
He added that trained emergency transport officers have been fully integrated into the national emergency response platform to guarantee prompt processing of distress calls and the swift deployment of ambulances to convey patients to well-equipped healthcare facilities.
Addressing the persistent challenge of difficult terrains and hard-to-reach communities, the Commissioner disclosed that the state government is already investing in alternative solutions. These include the procurement of tricycle (Keke) ambulances tailored for rural areas with poor road access. He also highlighted ongoing improvements in rural road infrastructure, alongside forward-looking plans to deploy drones and other innovative delivery systems to ensure uninterrupted supply of essential medical commodities to remote health facilities.
He emphasized that the initiative is part of a broader, multi-dimensional strategy aimed at eliminating maternal and neonatal mortality in Abia State, reinforcing the government’s commitment to inclusive and equitable healthcare delivery.
Prof. Uche commended the Governor’s visionary and pragmatic leadership, describing the present administration as one driven by tangible results rather than rhetoric.
“This is not a regular government; it is a people-focused government that prioritizes the health of Ndi Abia.
“What we are witnessing today are deliberate, measurable actions aimed at ensuring that every citizen, down to the last mile, has access to quality healthcare,” he said.
The Commissioner further urged Abians to take ownership of the reforms and actively support the government’s ongoing transformation agenda. He noted that the sustainability and long-term success of these achievements depend largely on the collective commitment of the people.
He expressed confidence that Ndi Abia, having witnessed visible and impactful progress across various sectors, will continue to rally behind policies and programmes that guarantee improved living standards and a healthier future for all.
The launch of the Rural Emergency Services and Maternal Transport System marks yet another significant milestone in Abia State’s journey towards building a resilient, inclusive, and people-centered healthcare system, one that leaves no community behind.
The event attracted key stakeholders and dignitaries, including representatives of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the representative of the Abia State Commissioner of Police, Heads of Health Authorities from the three benefiting LGAs, top management staff of the Ministry of Health, facility focal persons, CEMTOS officials, and representatives of the Mayor of
Ukwa East LGA, among others.