UNICEF, Bayelsa Urges Birth Attendants To Refer Pregnant Mothers To Hospitals

By Rhoda Godwin in Yenagoa*

Community health workers and traditional birth attendants are being urged to refer pregnant women to primary health centres for safe delivery.
To prevent avoidable maternal deaths, Bayelsa State Commissioner for Health, Professor Seiyefa Brisibe, has advised Community Health Workers (CHWs) and Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) to refer pregnant women to Primary Health Centres for safe childbirth.
Professor Brisibe made the statement during the First Round of the 2024 Optimised Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Week, which took place in Amarata, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. The programme is part of the state’s efforts to strengthen its healthcare system, particularly for women and children.
“I want to encourage all members of the community to be health advocates, to collaborate with Primary Health Care Centres, to ensure that the facilities in the wards are functional, and to ensure that no woman dies while giving birth to a child,” Professor Brisibe stated.

Mrs Ada Ezeogwu, a representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, Nigeria, praised the state government’s efforts to ensure quality healthcare in the state. Mrs Ezeogwu stated that UNICEF is in the state to monitor and ensure that the intervention reaches the intended target group, which is women and children, particularly those at the grassroots level.
Hon Ekiomote Pasisei, the first lady’s representative, assured that the government would provide the necessary support for the programme to be successful in the state.

She urged all stakeholders in the health sector to collaborate to ensure that health care is a priority in the state, and she emphasised that every child should receive the necessary vaccine to prevent diseases and deaths.
Dr Oluwatoyin Azebi, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, stated that the ministry is committed to providing quality services to all citizens of the state and that the Optimised Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Week is a critical step towards achieving the ministry’s goals.
“This week-long event will provide a range of services, including immunisation, nutrition screening, Vitamin A supplementation, and many others,” Dr Azebi stated.
Dr Williams Appah, Executive Secretary of the Primary Health Care Board, emphasised the importance of women visiting health centres in their communities while also urging health workers to be present at their duty posts.
Mrs Mabel Ogeniba, State Coordinator of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, advised all mothers to take advantage of the services provided by healthcare facilities in their communities.
“Every mother and her children must receive this package from primary health care essential services for us to achieve universal care,” Mrs Ogeniba stated.