As part of efforts to reduce maternal and child mortality rate by Governor Usman Ododo’s administration especially the vulnerable, Kogi State in partnership with the Federal Government of Nigeria through the National Health Insurance Agency (NHIA) have selected five healthcare providers to provide free strategic medical care for pregnant women and newborns.
After thorough evaluation, including data gathering, and training of medical personnel, Okengwe General Hospital alongside Confluence University of Science and Technology Teaching Hospital, Okene, Prince Abubakar Audu University Teaching Hospital, Anyigba, Kogi State Specialist Hospital Lokoja, and Federal University Teaching Hospital, Lokoja made the final list of five health facilities that would provide a new set of life-saving services for the people of Kogi State free of charge.
These unique, free and strategic health intervention services designed for pregnant women and newborns includes; Cesarean Section (CS), obstructed labour, safe blood transfusion, providing oxytocin and antibiotics, manual removal of placenta, assisted virginal delivery, resuscitation of the newborns and of course abortion. Other services include free treatment of newborns experiencing severe bleeding, infections, eclampsia, pre-eclampsia, post-partial sex and care, anemia in pregnancy and neonatal care.
Reacting to the new development, the medical officer in charge of Okengwe General Hospital, Dr Udi Anderson confirmed the news of the health center being a beneficiary of the NHIA/Kogi State Government medical upgrade and strategic health intervention program. The medical officer assured that the facility and personnel are fully prepared and ready to commence the new health intervention program immediately.
Dr Udi added that Okengwe General Hospital has received new incubator and physiotherapy machines and the hospital has also established a full physiotherapy unit after being granted full accreditation by the state government.
Udi praised the unwavering commitment of the state commissioner for health, Dr Adams Adeiza for championing and effectively implementing health reform programs of Gov. Usman Ahmed Ododo.
He described him as a thorough professional and an astute administrator insisting that the Commissioner and his team ensures Okengwe General Hospital and by extension the people of Okengwe district are also given the opportunity to benefits from this laudable and free health intervention program.
Judging from the new initiative, it’s obvious Gov. Usman Ododo’s administration is poised to ensure every vulnerable pregnant woman give birth safely while both the mother and child are being looked after by trained professionals at zero cost.
In view of the latest development at Okengwe General Hospital, the management is appealing to the state government to provide the health center with a new ambulance, more medical personnel and provision of uninterrupted power supply to effectively implement the various health intervention programs that would further enhances quality healthcare service delivery to the people.
– Abdulmumin Abubakar writes from Okengwe in Okene LGA
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