Obiano’s wife decries high maternal mortality

Wife of the Governor of Anambra State, Chief (Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano (middle) and Wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Oby Okeke (left) presenting delivery kit to Mrs. Happiness Arize, one of the beneficiary pregnant women during tour of PHC at Enugwu-Agidi Primary Healthcare centre, Njikoka Local Government, Anambra State.

The major problem confronting women in this part of the clime has continued to be high maternal mortality rate known in lay man’s language as women dying during child delivery.

Many have adduced reason for this unfortunate lose our women folk even in this 21ist century as well as proffered solution on how to bring it to an end or reduce it to the barest minimum.

But ineptitude leadership both at the Federal and State levels have been adduced as the major reason why ,aternal mortality rate was still high in this age and era in this clime. Elsewhere like Europe, America. China, India among others women do not die again in pregnancy or during child birth.

The wife of the Anambra State Governor, Chief (Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano was one person this high mortality rate has given a lot of serious concern hence her recent call on the need for support and provision of basic delivery kits to women in rural communities across the country as a solution to the high maternal mortality in Nigeria.

Mrs. Obiano w spoke during her tour of Primary Healthcare centres and distribution of maternal delivery kits to pregnant women in Otuocha, and Enugwu-Agidi in Anambra East and Njikoka Local Government Areas respectively on November 22, 2016.

(L-R): Wife of the Governor of Anambra State, Chief (Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano cuddling a new born at Primary Healthcare centre, Otuocha during tour of PHC’s.

The Governor’s wife told the women who turned out en mass at Otuocha Health and Enugwu-Agidi Centre that no woman should suppose to die in pregnancy or child birth when opportunities were available in this modern time to pregnant women to avoid life threatening complications during pregnancy, child birth or six weeks thereafter.

She warned on the danger of the avoidance of the patronage of quacks and regular antenatal visits to Health centres as the safest and best option for all pregnant women.

Mrs. Obiano told the women that the governor of Anambra State treats the welfare of women as priority and does not want to hear that any woman could not deliver safely in any part of the state, saying that is why he embarked on the renovation and rehabilitation of sixty-three Primary Healthcare centres across Anambra State.

Cross-section of women and pregnant mothers during tour of PHC at Enugwu-Agidi Primary Healthcare centre, Njikoka Local Government, Anambra State.

Said Mrs. Obiano; “I have come to support the effort of our governor, Chief Willie Obiano at promoting the health and safe delivery of pregnant mothers with donation of delivery kits otherwise known as Mama kit to some of you adjudged regulars at antennal clinics.

The package I have is complete for safe child delivery; each pack contains all the tools needed by the midwives and health personnel and diaper, wrapper and mosquito net to protect mother and child from bites.

I am also glad to note that the maternal death ratio of our state is improving consistently at 200 deaths per 100,000 deliveries which are below the national average which stand at 540 deaths per 100,000 deliveries.”

She called on the women to work hard to escape poverty by engaging in productive ventures that would assist their husbands and help sustain their families, urging them to take advantage of the opportunities available under the programmes of her NGO, “Caring Family Enhancement Initiative” (CAFÉ), which adds value to the lives of women in our society.‎

Mrs Obiano said some of the projects of CAFÉ which provides succor and empowerment to indigent women and widows as the Housing for indigent widows in each Senatorial zone, the building of Toilets in rural Markets across Anambra, as well as Skills Acquisition and empowerment training for over 2,500 women in various skills including; Tailoring and Fashion design, Soap making, Bakery and Confectionery, Hair dressing and Beauty Therapy, and Interior Decoration amongst other programmes.

(L-R): Reproductive Health Coordinator, Ministry of Health Anambra State, Mrs. Ebele Anaeme, Head of Local Government Administration Njikoka Local Government, Mrs. Chinyere Nkaneme, Wife of the Governor of Anambra State, Chief (Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano and Wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Oby Okeke during tour of PHC at Enugwu-Agidi Primary Healthcare centre, Njikoka Local Government, Anambra State

The wife of the Deputy Governor , Mrs. Oby Okeke in her speech assured Mrs. Obiano that the women were excited at the opportunity to interact and discuss their health needs and thanked her for visiting to promote antenatal attendance and safe delivery of pregnant women in Otuocha as well as Njikoka her local government Area and Anambra State in general.

Earlier, the Reproductive Health Coordinator, Ministry of Health Anambra State, Mrs. Ebele Anaeme praised the intervention of the wife of the governor in support of safe delivery for pregnant mothers in Anambra through regular donation of Mama kits.

We are very grateful for the free distribution of forty packs of kits to pregnant mothers today and assure you that it will go a long way in ensuring safe delivery in our Primary Healthcare centres.

Dance troupe thrilling guests during tour of PHC at Enugwu-Agidi Primary Healthcare centre, Njikoka Local Government, Anambra State.

The Head of Local Government Administration in Otuocha, Mr. Simeon Okeke and Njikoka Local Government, Mrs. Chinyere Nkaneme in their respective speeches thanked the wife of the Governor and expressed their appreciation for her remembering the pregnant mothers in the area. They asked her to convey their gratitude to the governor whom they agreed was doing.