Directs Registration of Birth Attendants to Strengthen Maternal Healthcare
By Emeka Chiaghanam
Dr. Afam Obidike, Anambra State Commissioner for
Health, has reaffirmed the state's determination to drastically cut the
transmission of HIV from mothers to their babies, declaring that the government
will not tolerate any gaps that could put lives at risk.
Speaking during a stakeholders' meeting on the Expanded
Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) programme held at Trig
Premium Hotel, Nibo, Obidike said Anambra remains focused on protecting
pregnant women and newborns through stronger healthcare interventions and
improved service delivery.
The gathering brought together health experts, government
officials, development partners and implementing agencies to assess ongoing
health programmes, identify challenges and map out strategies for better
results across the state.
Addressing participants, the commissioner stressed that
every effort must be made to ensure pregnant women living with HIV receive the
care and support needed to prevent the virus from being passed on to their
children.
According to him, the state's goal is to reduce
mother-to-child HIV transmission to just 0.5 per cent, a target that aligns
with global health standards and reflects the government's broader commitment
to improving public health outcomes.
Obidike noted that regular review meetings have become an
important tool for measuring progress, identifying weak points and making
informed decisions based on available data. He said such engagements help
health authorities track what is working and quickly address areas requiring
attention.
The commissioner also announced a major step aimed at
strengthening maternal and child healthcare services across Anambra. He
directed that all Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) operating in the state
should be identified and registered within one week.
He explained that bringing traditional birth attendants into
a formal registration system would improve communication between them and
healthcare facilities, strengthen referral networks and ultimately help reduce
avoidable deaths among mothers and children.
The move, he said, is part of a broader strategy to ensure
that pregnant women receive timely access to skilled medical care whenever
complications arise.
Earlier, the State AIDS and STIs Programme Coordinator, Dr.
Tonia Mbagwu, praised the commissioner for promoting a data-driven approach to
healthcare planning. She noted that integrating PMTCT services with other
disease control programmes has helped strengthen healthcare delivery and
improve coordination among health providers.
Mbagwu encouraged participants to contribute actively during
discussions as the state intensifies efforts to achieve HIV epidemic control,
particularly among pregnant women and infants who remain among the most
vulnerable groups.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of
Health, Dr. Uchebo, commended health workers, development partners and
stakeholders for their continued support in advancing healthcare services across
the state.
While acknowledging the progress already made, she called
for even stronger collaboration and greater commitment from all parties
involved. She stressed the importance of regular participation in technical
review meetings, noting that consistent engagement remains vital to achieving
the state's health targets.
The meeting featured presentations on first-quarter 2026
performance reports covering reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, adolescent
and elderly health programmes, nutrition, malaria, tuberculosis,
non-communicable diseases and HIV prevention services.
Participants also reviewed achievements recorded so far,
examined existing challenges and explored practical solutions to improve
healthcare outcomes across Anambra State.
Representatives from key organisations and development
partners, including AHNI, AHF, CHAI, NEPWHAN and the Anambra State AIDS Control
Agency (ANSACA), joined the discussions, alongside senior government officials
and health sector stakeholders committed to strengthening healthcare delivery
in the state.
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