Abia healthcare reforms yield life-saving outcome – Health Commissioner

The Abia Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Uche, says the ongoing healthcare reforms in the state have started yielding results, citing the successful management of an obstetric emergency at the Ohiya Primary Health Center (PHC).

Uche said this on Monday, while briefing newsmen at the Government House, Umuahia, on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting.

He explained that the life-threatening emergency was successfully managed at the PHC, showcasing the impact of the State Government’s reforms.

According to him, an expectant mother developed eclampsia (a severe condition marked by high blood pressure, protein in urine and convulsion) was promptly treated and safely delivered of a set of twins at the facility.

The commissioner said the intervention saved the lives of the mother and the babies.

“Before now, such a case could not have been handled at the PHC level.

“But because the facility now has oxygen, the necessary equipment and a doctor on ground, the woman was quickly delivered and the seizures stopped, saving the lives of the mother and the twins,” he said.

He also said that the development validated the present administration’s policy of taking quality healthcare and emergency obstetric services closer to the people.

He explained that the state had moved beyond the traditional concept of PHCs as centres for only preventive care and treatment of minor ailments.

He said that many of the PHCs were being upgraded to higher service levels, capable of handling more complicated cases, including emergency obstetric procedures.

Uche said that the facilities were being equipped with staff accommodation, security infrastructure and solar power to ensure uninterrupted services.

He further said that the government was also planning to deploy roving medical teams to provide rapid specialist interventions in communities and further reduce maternal and infant mortality.

He said that the ongoing construction of specialist hospitals in the three senatorial districts and the renovation of general hospitals were also meant to bring specialist care closer to the people.

He further disclosed that four more PHCs were functionalised on Monday, bringing the number of functional facilities in the state to 110.

“The last time I came here, we had 90. As we speak now, we have 110 PHCs.

“In the next two to three weeks, another 10 to 15 will also become functional.

“It is a work in progress, and every day we are making progress,” the commissioner said.

Also, the Commissioner for Information, Mr Okey Kanu, said that the State Government had approved the employment of 50 additional nurses, raising the number of nurses employed under the state’s Human Resource Programme to 550.

Kanu said that the approval formed part of the ongoing efforts to recruit 771 medical personnel across different categories for the state-owned hospitals, adding that 500 nurses had already been employed.

He also said that the Abia Health Insurance Scheme had recorded 157,462 enrollees, in line with the State Government’s vision to provide accessible healthcare with financial protection for residents.

Kanu said that the state’s College of Nursing Sciences recently received a boost for its National Diploma programme, following a visit by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).

He said that the NBTE team praised the extensive remodeling of the institution’s facilities and training programmes and commended the government for the transformation of Abia’s health sector.

He disclosed that Abia would be collaborating with MedShare U.S.A. to train technicians on the repair and maintenance of hospital equipment, ensuring sustainable healthcare delivery, particularly for women.

The commissioner said that the training would enable the health personnel to operate medical equipment effectively.

He expressed delight that the state had not recorded any positive case of public health diseases, including lassa fever, Mpox, diphtheria, yellow fever, cholera, and rabies during the review period.