The Rivers State Primary Health Care Management Board (RSPHCMB) takes strategic steps at reducing maternal mortality in the state as it urges newly engaged midwives to help strengthen the health workforce
By Edu Abade
The Rivers State Primary Health Care Management Board (RSPHCMB) has taking steps to reduce maternal mortality in the state, one of which is the engagement of more midwives.
Executive Secretary of the board, Dr. Chituru Adele, who made the assertion in an address at the orientation programme for newly engaged midwives, pointed out that presently, Nigeria has one of the highest maternal mortality ratios in Africa.
Adele, who was represented at the event by the Director of Community Health Services of the Board, Dr. Joy Tonye Wihioka, congratulated the new midwives decrying the practice where lesser number of births take place in health facilities or are being attended to by skilled birth attendants.
The RSPHCMB Executive Secretary lamented that with the alarming rate of maternal mortality, the board deemed it appropriate to engage more midwives in order to expand the availability of qualified healthcare professionals to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes.
The newly engaged midwives were encouraged to recognise that their engagement is to strengthen the health welfare of Rivers residents and to reduce critical delay through the provision of timely, skilled and quality maternal health care services.
The participants at the orientation programme were also encouraged to demonstrate professionalism, empathy, commitment and dedication in the discharge of their duties.
The Executive Secretary of the health management board also implored the newly engaged midwives of the importance of being readily available to provide high-quality, patient-centred care to improve maternal and child health outcomes across the state.
In her remarks, the RMNCAH FP, Dr. Tamunobelema E. Jaja, who talked on Maternal Health and Mortality Trends,” exposed the participants to what maternal health is, the continuum of care, components of maternal care, why maternal health matters, the primary causes of mortality, saying that with teamwork the state can become maternal mortality free.
Also speaking, the State Focal Person for Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) of the board, Dtn. Buduzhi Gift Oguzor, said the fund is targeted at helping to achieve increased Universal Health Coverage (UHC), hence the target of strengthening primary care for every citizen.
Oguzor then highlighted the roles of midwives in UHC, service delivery expectations, financial protection for participants, facility management and maintenance, monitoring and evaluation challenges, and mitigation strategies, among others.
Some other officers who helped to orientate the newly engaged midwives were Dorcas A. Eli, Director of Nursing Services of the Board and Dr Pearl Abereton, who took them through compliance and quality service provision of the board.
