The volunteers and health officers in the state have been urged to fight against continued existence of traditional birth deliveries in the state.

Chineze George-Ileka, the UNICEF desk officer, made the call at Otuocha during the training of volunteer community mobilisers, VCMs, and health officers on the fight against unhealthy hygiene habits, morbidity and mortality in Anambra.

“Most pregnant women still patronise traditional birth attendants and risk their lives and those of their babies.

“It is your duty to educate and sensitise your communities’ people, especially women and expectant mothers on importance of antenatal checks and deliveries at healthcare facilities.

“The nurses know how best to manage delivery challenges to avoid risks or deaths, ‘’ George-Ileka said.

She enjoined the VCMs and Health Officers to teach women the importance of giving their babies and children adequate immunisation, keeping their bodies, surroundings clean to avoid diseases and infections.

“Women should wash their private parts with ordinary water, not with soaps or chemicals to avoid diseases and infections,’’ she added.

She, however, expressed displeasure at unhealthy challenges faced by pregnant women in the area. The challenges include lack of drugs, unfair charges and lack of delivery kits.

George-Ileka, then, called on Pius Ifeadi, the transition committee chairman, Anambra East, and Edozie Ezedinachi, head, Department of Health to strategise on ways of equipping the health facilities.

She also appealed to the health officers to contribute to the fight by purchasing some of the drugs through their private purses to encourage the poor pregnant women, especially during their first visits.

The officer noted that Anaocha and Ekwusigo LGAs still maintain the required standards as no drug had been found lacking in the healthcare facilities within the areas.

Maurice P. Anetoh, a UNICEF patron, reiterated measures taken by his LG, Anaocha to meet the required standards.

The measures include keeping the health centres clean, monitoring workers’ punctuality and equipping the health centres with drugs and delivery kits.

Others are provision of monitoring vehicles, gifts of N5000, bath kits and diapers to every woman that put to bed and provision of juices and biscuits for children during immunisation.

Anetoh said that Aniocha’s success story made UNICEF to carry the sensitisation to other LGAs.

Ezedinachi Edozie, head, Department of Health, commended the group for the visit.

He re-assured that he would meet with the TC Chairman to upgrade and equip the health facilities in the area as well as to attend to the pregnant women.

– Sept. 4, 2018 @ 17:12 GMT |