The Anambra State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening primary healthcare as part of efforts to eliminate preventable maternal deaths and improve access to quality healthcare across the state.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike, made the commitment during a meeting with the 21 Primary Health Care (PHC) Local Government Directors at the Ministry of Health headquarters in Awka.
Obidike said the Governor Chukwuma Soludo administration had sustained investments in primary healthcare, including the provision of a free ambulance service to ensure the timely referral of pregnant women and emergency cases from PHCs to higher-level health facilities.
He said the initiative was designed to reduce delays in accessing emergency obstetric care, one of the leading causes of maternal mortality.
The Commissioner stressed that reducing maternal deaths requires quality antenatal care, early identification of high-risk pregnancies, prompt referrals and efficient emergency response at the primary healthcare level.
He urged healthcare workers to adhere strictly to their professional responsibilities, noting that effective service delivery depends on all cadres of health personnel performing their assigned roles efficiently.
Obidike also called for the uniform implementation of government health programmes across all primary healthcare facilities to guarantee quality, equity and consistency in healthcare delivery.
Reaffirming the state’s target of zero maternal mortality, he said no woman should die from preventable complications related to pregnancy and childbirth
“The vision of Governor Chukwuma Soludo is to eliminate maternal mortality in Anambra State. This can only be achieved through a strong primary healthcare system, effective referrals, committed health workers and adherence to established healthcare standards,” Obidike said.
He directed the PHC directors to strengthen supervision in their respective local government areas, promote accountability among healthcare workers and sustain the implementation of government policies aimed at improving maternal and child health outcomes.
Speaking on behalf of the Directors, Dr Chukwudi Njelita commended the commissioner for prioritising primary healthcare and pledged their continued support for government efforts to improve supervision, strengthen service delivery and reduce maternal mortality across the state.
The meeting also reviewed ongoing healthcare interventions, addressed operational challenges and identified strategies to further improve primary healthcare services across Anambra’s 21 local government areas.
