The Abia State Government, through the State Ministry of Health, has unveiled efforts to safeguard the lives of mothers and newborns with the rollout of the Rural Emergency Services and Maternal Transport System across the state.
Speaking at the unveiling event in Umuahia, the state capital, on Friday, the Commissioner for Health, Enoch Uche, said that the initiative is in line with the directive of Governor Alex Otti, whose administration has consistently prioritised the health and well-being of Ndi Abia.
According to the commissioner, emergency medical services play a critical role in determining the overall quality of life of any population, noting that the new system is specifically targeted at reducing maternal and neonatal mortality in the state.
He said, “One of the leading causes of maternal deaths is the inability of pregnant women, especially those in labour, and newborns requiring urgent care, to access health facilities with skilled personnel on time.
“To address this gap, the state government has not only retrofitted health facilities but also recruited qualified medical personnel, improved welfare packages, and created incentives that are attracting healthcare workers to Abia.
“The government is now focusing on strengthening access to these services by ensuring that those who need them most can benefit.”
The commissioner identified three local government areas, including Obingwa, Bende, and Ukwa East, as high-burden areas for maternal mortality, describing them as part of the 172 high-risk LGAs in Nigeria.
“As a strategic response, we have deployed ambulances to central locations within these LGAs to ensure that any woman in need of emergency transport can access services within 25 to 30 minutes or less,” he stated.
He added that trained emergency transport officers have been onboarded into the national emergency response platform to ensure prompt processing of distress calls and swift deployment of ambulances to convey patients to equipped healthcare facilities.
Addressing concerns about difficult terrains and hard-to-reach communities, the commissioner noted that the state government is already investing in alternative solutions, including the procurement of tricycle (Keke) ambulances for rural areas with poor road access.
He also highlighted ongoing improvements in rural road infrastructure, as well as plans to deploy drones and other innovative delivery systems to ensure uninterrupted supply of essential medical commodities to remote health facilities.
Uche emphasised that the initiative is part of a broader, multi-faceted approach aimed at eliminating maternal and neonatal mortality in Abia State.
He commended the governor’s visionary leadership, describing the present administration as one driven by action rather than rhetoric.
“This is not a regular government; it is a people-focused government that prioritises the health of Ndi Abia. What we are witnessing today are deliberate, measurable actions aimed at ensuring that every citizen, down to the last mile, has access to quality healthcare,” he said.
