The Ebonyi State Government has said it is working effortlessly to achieve zero maternal mortality rate in the State.
This was disclosed by Mrs Augustina Otu, an official of the Ebonyi Ministry of Health, during an interview with newsmen in Abakaliki, on Tuesday.
Otu said in 2018, when a maternal mortality national survey was conducted and updated by the National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS), the rate stood at 512 per 100,000 live births.
She said the State Ministry of Health and State Primary Health Care Development Agency have been making conscious efforts to see a reduction in maternal, newborn and child mortality in the state.
She said; “This is exemplified by the establishment of the State Emergency Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Intervention Centre in 2020 which I serve as the programme manager.’’
“The state has embarked on activities like Emergency Transport Scheme (ETS) to reduce maternal and perinatal mortality.’’
“The state provided tricycles to the Local Government Areas (LGAs) as an ambulance to help transport women to the health facilities.”
Otu noted that the United States Agency for International Development-Integrated Health Programme (USAID-IHP), in collaboration with the ministry of health and SPHCDA, have trained members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and volunteer drivers in some selected LGAs.
She said; “The training aims to assist in transporting mothers and children in cases of emergency to save lives in the state.’’
“The state has also trained health workers to help provide skilled birth attendants to reduce maternal and child mortality in the state.’’
“The state is working with the health partners in the state to create more access to drugs and maternal service.”
Otu noted that Gov. Dave Umahi has provided access roads to most of the health facilities to ease transportation challenges and the efforts were geared towards reducing maternal deaths in the State.