Ebonyi State Health Ministry Sensitizes Okpuitumo Community on Maternal/Child Death Prevention
By Kelechi Ugo
In a proactive move to address maternal and child mortality in Ebonyi State, a delegation from the State Ministry of Health, led by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Community Engagement, Rt. Hon. Nwanchor Paulinus, visited Okpuitumo Community in Ikwo Local Government Area on a one-day sensitization campaign.
The visit was prompted by a disturbing report of the death of a pregnant woman, Mrs. Charity Umoke, who tragically lost her life during childbirth at the clinic of an alleged unlicensed "patient dealer" in the community. The incident, reported through the Ministry’s Local Awareness Response Team under the Maternal, Perinatal, and Child Death Surveillance and Response (MPCDSR) programme, raised serious concerns about the continued patronage of unqualified health practitioners in rural areas.
During the sensitization exercise, Mrs. Uchenna Nwode, the MPDSR Desk Officer, decried the unethical practices of some self-acclaimed healthcare providers and urged community members to report such individuals. She emphasized the importance of timely referral and access to government-approved health facilities to prevent avoidable maternal and child deaths.
Addressing the community, Rt. Hon. Nwanchor Paulinus urged residents to utilize the numerous government-owned health centers spread across the state. He commended the commitment of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Prince Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, and Her Excellency, the First Lady of Ebonyi State, for prioritizing the health sector as part of the administration’s People's Charter of Needs agenda.
He also highlighted the impact of the First Lady’s pet projects, notably the Better Rural Women and Orphans (BERWO) initiative, and her continued advocacy against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Female Genital Mutilation, and child trafficking. These initiatives, he said, are geared towards improving the health and general well-being of women, children, and vulnerable groups across the state.
The traditional ruler of Okpuitumo Community, HRH Eze Ezekiel Oyika, expressed gratitude for the timely intervention and pledged his cabinet’s full cooperation in identifying and eradicating the activities of unregistered healthcare providers. He revealed that, in collaboration with the Ikwo Local Government Chairman, the suspect involved in Mrs. Umoke’s case has been apprehended and is being investigated for professional misconduct.
Concluding the event, Rt. Hon. Paulinus reaffirmed the government's commitment to ending preventable maternal deaths in the state. He assured the Ministry of Health of his office’s continued partnership in taking the sensitization campaign to every community in Ebonyi State, urging residents to protect the lives of mothers and children by seeking care only from certified health professionals.
