CEmONC assessment report worries Abia health sector stakeholders * As only 2 out of 17 gen hospitals can perform CS

CEmONC assessment report worries Abia health sector stakeholders

* As only 2 out of 17 gen hospitals can perform CS

Steve Oko

The report of the assessment of Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (CEmONC) services in general hospitals in Abia State, has become a source of concern to stakeholders in the health sector.

This came to the fore during a public presentation of the result of the assessment held at the SUN Haven Hotel, Umuahia.

CEmONC is very crucial component in the fight against maternal and childhood deaths.

According to the result of the assessment conducted between September and December 2024, only one health facility (Arochukwu General Hospital), had a Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA) kit.

It further indicated that only two General Hospitals could perform caesarian sections, and 14 could deliver between one and six signal functions.

The disturbing result also showed “none of the secondary health facilities in Abia State had all necessary infrastructure and equipment needed to provide all nine conventional signal function.”

The report presented by the Sector Wide Approach (SWAP) Desk Officer for Abia State, Dr Onuka Okorie, also revealed gaps in laboratory and pharmacy services as only nine facilities had laboratories, and two out of the 17 facilities were without pharmacy unit.

According to the findings, “neonatal care units were absent in most of the facilities assessed”, while “none of the health facilities was well equipped to provide all 12 CNC signal functions.”

The assessment, however, indicated that a maximum of 18 out of the 21 combined CEmONC signal functions were attained by only one health facilities -General Hospital Arochukwu.

Providing insight on the project, the Abia State SWAP Desk Officer, Dr Okorie said CEmONC, as part of the maternal mortality reduction innovation initiative, “is a vital component of Nigeria’s effort to reduce deaths from haemorrhage, sepsis, eclampsia, post-abortion complications, and obstructed labour.”

“It aims to make childbirth safer for mothers and newborns alike through timely access to emergency care”, he added.

Speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary, Abia State Ministry of Health, Dr Ifenyinwa Uma-Kalu, noted the disturbing result of the assessment, but said that the Gov. Alex Otti-led administration, was already making commendable efforts towards addressing the challenges in the health sector.

She highlighted the allocation of 15 per cent of the state budget to health as a demonstration of the administration’s commitment towards revitalizing healthcare infrastructure.

The Permanent Secretary who represented the Commissioner of Health, Professor Enoch Uche, said the on-going transformation in the Abia health sector
“is aimed at improving maternal and child health outcomes.”

She said the State Government “is currently renovating and equipping 200 primary health centres (PHCs), across the state, five General Hospitals, in addition to the massive renovation of tertiary health facilities in Aba and Umuahia.

The Permanent Secretary, however, noted that the state needed to access the necessary funds required to consolidate on the progress already being recorded in the sector.

She said: “This Government is working to ensure equitable access to quality healthcare for all Abians regardless of social or economic status”

The Permanent Secretary solicited the support of the stakeholders in the efforts of Government to address the challenges in the health sector.

Meanwhile, stakeholders at the public presentation commended the assessors for their painstaking efforts and transparency in exposing the true situation on ground so that informed action could be taken to address them.

The stakeholders lauded the efforts of the current administration in Abia towards repositioning the health sector, but called for urgent action and upgrades in the designated CEmONC facilities.

They recommended the establishment of fully functional neonatal units, pharmacy units, pharmacies and the upgrading of surgical theatres and labour wards in all the general hospitals.

Noting that while the move by the State Government to renovate 200 PHCs is commendable, the stakeholders emphasised that the imperative of upgrading general hospitals which alone could provide CEmONC services, should not be overlooked.

In a remark, one of the critical partners and Jhpiego Project Director, Dr Chioma Oduenyi, thanked the assessors for their factual presentation of their findings, noting that federal intervention could only come when the facts are correctly presented.

She said similar assessment was conducted in all 774 councils in the country with the collaboration of the Federal Ministry of Health, State Governments and technical support for Jhpiego.

Dr Oduenyi noted with concern, the worrisome state of the health sector in Nigeria, and called for action to fix it.

” The health care in Nigeria is in a gory situation. The findings showed that we are still very far away”, she lamented.

On the way forward, the Jhpiego Director advocated the sustenance of the efforts of the Abia State Government in reviving the health sector.

“Abia State is ably led by a Governor who who is already doing something to revamp the health sector. The Permanent Secretary has reeled out some of the commendable steps being taken by the state to address these observed gaps.

” We, however, expect the state to do more especially now that they have the report”, she advised.

Similarly, the SWAMP Desk Officer Dr Okorie, said that the result of the assessment showed there were a lot of gaps that needed to be addressed.

He, however, expressed delight that the State Government had started renovating five General Hospitals in addition to 200 PHCs, noting that the move would help improve on the situation.

He also said that the recent approval by Abia State Executive Council for the recruitment of 771 health care workers, was a sign that the State was serious about changing the narrative.

Dr Okorie explained that the essence of the assessment was for stakeholders to collaborate and tackle the challenges behind maternal and infant mortality.

“Essentially, our aim is to make secondary health facilities ready to take care of our mothers when they give birth, and our children when they are born so we can reduce both maternal and infant mortality rate”.

He explained that states which keyed into the project would be qualified to benefit from a World Bank -assisted federal government grant based on performance.

One of the assessors, Dr Joy Okechukwu, from General Hospital Aba, expressed hope that the unbiased analysis of the findings would help bring about the needed change and interventions.

” It’s good that we had this assessment and action plans made in collaboration with the State, federal government, Jhpiego and her partners to improve on maternal and prenatal indices.

” I’m very optimistic that this type of discussion will help us improve on what we have.”

Dr Damian Asogwa, a Jhpiego consultant, urged stakeholders to focus on collaborative solutions rather than politicizing the data.

One of the participants, Dr Nwalozie Ugochukwu from Obingwa General Hospital, expressed concern over critical cases being referred to hospital too late due to religious and cultural beliefs, often resulting in preventable deaths.

He harped on the need for people to go to hospital instead of seeking help at unauthorized places, adding that referrals should be made on time so that emergency situations could be arrested early.

 

Steve Oko, Publisher/C.E.O, WaWa News Global. For more information on advert placement and news coverage, contact us on: 08038725600, or via email stevemanofgod2000@yahoo.com; wawanewsglobal@gmail.com Always read WaWa News Global - Your most dependable online news platform for the latest breaking news in Nigeria.

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