The Anambra State Government has pledged to strengthen collaboration with reproductive health partners to reduce unsafe abortion, expand access to contraceptive services, and improve maternal healthcare under a new six-to-seven-year programme by IPAS.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike, stated this in Awka, the state capital, while receiving an IPAS delegation led by its Co-Director, Mr. Samsu Gombwer.
The delegation included a former state Commissioner for Health, Prof. Brian Adinma.
Obidike said Anambra was pleased to be selected as one of five priority states among eight participating in the programme, adding that the state would work with relevant stakeholders to improve reproductive and maternal healthcare services.
He stressed that the programme’s long duration required sustained commitment, effective coordination and cooperation among government agencies, healthcare providers and other stakeholders to achieve its objectives.
The commissioner also underscored the importance of expanding access to contraception and family planning services, noting that improved reproductive healthcare could help prevent maternal deaths and improve women’s health.
He expressed optimism that the partnership would complement existing state initiatives to strengthen maternal healthcare and ensure women receive appropriate reproductive health services.
Earlier, Gombwer said IPAS had worked with the Anambra State Ministry of Health over the past two years, supporting policy dissemination and training healthcare workers in post-abortion care and contraceptive services.
He explained that the new programme would focus on three key areas: policy development and implementation, community engagement, and health system strengthening.
According to him, IPAS plans to extend its support to about 20 additional health facilities, building on previous interventions in 19 facilities across the state.
Gombwer said implementation would begin with stakeholder consultations and an assessment of the state’s health system, followed by baseline assessments and the training of state-level trainers.
The trained personnel would subsequently provide continuous, on-the-job training for other healthcare workers to strengthen their capacity to deliver appropriate reproductive health services.
He said the programme would also support improved policies, community participation and health facility capacity to ensure better access to reproductive healthcare.
Gombwer thanked the commissioner for receiving the delegation and reaffirmed IPAS’s commitment to working with the Anambra State Government to implement the programme.
