Anambra IDP Camps Birth 100 babies – Commissioner
Over 100 babies were delivered in Anambra Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps during the 2022 flood disaster.
The State Government revealed this through Anambra Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike on Tuesday.
Dr. Obidike, while receiving the 1,212 delivery kits donated by the United Nations Children’s Fund in Awka, revealed that many pregnant women ran to the IDPs for safety without delivery kits.
He said:
“During the 2022 flood disaster, we had over 100 deliveries at the IDP camps.
“This prompted the wife of the governor, Dr Nonye Soludo, to donate mama kits to expectant mothers and sponsor antenatal care at the camps.”
The commissioner, however, urged individuals to donate mama kits to save and encourage expectant mothers to go for antenatal. “This is why UNICEF is donating these delivery kits to the state. He added
To reduce maternal deaths in the state, Obidike promised to ensure the distribution of delivery kits get to those who need them both in flood-prone and hard-to-reach areas.
“We will distribute it in flood-prone and hard-to-reach areas as incentives to encourage pregnant women to register and go for antenatal.
“This will also prevent and reduce maternal deaths in the state.”
The commissioner described the mama kit as an all-in-one kit that includes; Mackintosh, olive oil, umbilical cord ligature, surgical knife, baby wrapper, laundry soap, gloves, cotton wool, and small gauze.
According to him, the kit will provide
everything needed for prospective mothers to have a sanitary and safe delivery.
Obidike also mentioned that the state government was intensifying efforts to improve maternal health, and encouraging pregnant women to deliver at a health facility.
Dr. Obianuju Okoye, who is the State’s Reproductive Health coordinator also commented on the delivery kits; he said the kits would help relieve the state emergency flood response as well as reduce the burden and cost of delivery.
“From our data, there was a slight increase in maternal deaths due to the 2022 flood disaster and this is one of the interventions to reduce such deaths,” Okoye said.
Follow us for more stories…
Author
