Abia launches rural emergency, maternal transport to tackle maternal, neonatal mortality

The Abia State Government, through the State Ministry of Health, has taken a bold step towards safeguarding the lives of mothers and newborns with the rollout of the Rural Emergency Services and Maternal Transport System across the state.

Enoch Oghonnayaa Uche, Commissioner for Health, while speaking during the event, disclosed that the initiative was in line with the directive of Governor Alex Otti, whose administration has consistently prioritised the health and well-being of Ndi Abia.

According to Uche, emergency medical services play a critical role in determining the overall quality of life of any population, noting that the new system was specifically targeted at reducing maternal and neonatal mortality in the State.

He explained that one of the leading causes of maternal deaths was the inability of pregnant women, especially those in labour, and newborns requiring urgent care, to access health facilities with skilled personnel on time.

He said to address the gap, the State Government retrofitted health facilities and also recruited qualified medical personnel, improved welfare packages, and created incentives that are attracting healthcare workers to Abia.

Uche further revealed that the government is focusing on strengthening access to those services by ensuring that those who needed them most could benefit.

He identified three local government areas, 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 had 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 terrain 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 stressed that the initiative was 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 prioritizes 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 stated.

The commissioner urged Abians to take ownership of the reforms and support the government’s ongoing transformation agenda, noting that the sustainability of those achievements rested largely on the collective will of the people.

He expressed confidence that Ndi Abia, having witnessed tangible progress across sectors, would continue to support policies and programmes that guarantee improved living standards and a healthier future for all.

The launch of the Rural Emergency Services and Maternal Transport System marked yet another milestone in Abia State’s journey towards building a resilient, inclusive, and people-centered healthcare system.