Newly employed nurses and midwives in Akwa Ibom State Primary Healthcare Development Agency have been advised to guard against all forms of unnecessary and avoidable death of infants and mothers in their care.
Chairman, Governing Board of the agency, Dr Martins Akpan who gave the warning at a 3-Day Orientation Course for newly employed nurses and an 8-Day training on Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (BEmONC) to select Midwives in Uyo also cautioned them against declining postings to rural areas and remain committed to the oaths of the nursing profession.
Akpan, who stressed that the agency would no longer accept excuses and indolence for the death of babies and mothers emphasised that,‘’it’s time to prevent excess maternity and newborn morbidity and mortality in Akwa Ibom State hence the engagement of more professional and skilled birth attendants”.
While noting that the programmes were, more or less, refreshers’ courses, especially, for the retired and serving ones among them, the Chairman stated that more was required of healthcare providers at the primary healthcare (PHC) level.
The chairman opined that with, “the provision of quality and affordable health care services at the PHC Centres, the narrative will change, in line with the focus of the Governor Umo Eno-led Administration on healthcare services and in fulfilment of the Universal Health Coverage.”
Also, Executive Secretary, AKSPHCDA, Dr. Eno Attah, while emphasising on diligence to work, however, frowned on officers’ complaints and rejections of postings to health centres they describe as being ‘too rural/remote/interior’.
Attah stated that,”no matter how remote the location of a primary health facility is, so long as people lived there, those people still need health care services and it is incumbent on health workers to provide those services.”
On his part the National Desk Officer, BHCPF HRH, NPHCDA Gateway, Dr. Phyllis Ogah said, “Make sure no woman/infant dies an unnecessary death. You should ensure you distinguish yourselves from the Traditional Birth Attendants.”
The trainings covered the following areas, “Situation of Maternal, Newborn and Child Health in Nigeria”; “Ist to 3rd Stage Labour and Resuscitation of Newborn”; “Birth Preparedness and Complication Readiness”; “Use of Partograph in the Management of Labour” while participants were exposed to practical sessions in some of the hospitals in the state.
