Abia State Government has approved six months of paid maternity leave for nursing mothers and three weeks for nursing fathers

Wife of the Governor, Mrs Priscilla Otti who made the announcement Tuesday in her speech at the World Breastfeeding week held at the Abia State Children’s Specialist Hospital Umuahia, said the measure was part of the deliberate efforts of the state to promote exclusive breastfeeding

She also said it was to enable couples bond with their new babies and promote peace and harmony in the home.

Mrs Otti advised fathers to ensure they use the leave to stay home and assist their wives in some domestic chores to enable their wives concentrate fully on the babies.

The Abia First Lady, restated the commitment of the state government to promote mother-friendly workplace policies including establishment of creches at both public and private centers.

She encouraged nursing mothers to practice exclusive breastfeeding due to its numerous health and economic benefits.

Prince Eze Ugochukwu

With the belief that there is a sacred duty to preserve life, the Imo State Governor, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, has directed the Imo State Health Insurance Agency (IMSHIA), under the leadership of Dr. Uche Ewelike, its Executive Secretary and CEO, to embark on a mission to secure the health and safety of every pregnant woman in Imo State.

At todays gathering of Primary Health Care (PHC) coordinators from across the 27 Local Government Areas (LGAs), Dr. Ewelike laid out the compelling directive from the Governor: “No woman should perish while giving birth.”

According to Dr. Ewelike, “this clarion call, backed by fresh funding, signals a renewed commitment to weave a robust safety net for maternal care through the Imo State Health Insurance Scheme, particularly under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund” he said.

The heart of this initiative lies in a strategic endeavour to enrol every pregnant woman in Imo State into the state’s health insurance framework, ensuring access to free maternal care.

The meeting with PHC coordinators, who serve as the key personnel for primary health service delivery, was a critical step toward crafting strategies that are both inclusive and effective. These coordinators, entrusted with program implementation, are uniquely positioned to carry out this new initiative.

A key focus of the discussion was the need to capture pregnant women who are seeking treatment outside the state’s 305 primary health facilities. Dr. Ewelike urged coordinators to devise innovative approaches to include these women, ensuring that even those accessing care in private or informal settings are brought under the protective umbrella of IMSHIA.

“This safety net is particularly vital in emergencies, where timely access to quality care can mean the difference between life and death,” he emphasizes.

Coordinators are to leverage their local knowledge to identify barriers, whether they be logistical or informational, and design compelling outreach programmes that will resonate with the target audience.

Tension has gripped the Okeyimi Health Centre in Ado Ekiti following the mysterious disappearance of a newborn baby, barely a day old, from the facility.

The incident reportedly occurred in the early hours of Monday when healthcare workers on duty attempted to attend to the baby, only to discover she was missing.

The situation quickly plunged the hospital into chaos, leaving the infant’s mother, family members, patients, and staff in shock and distress.

According to sources within the facility, both the mother and several hospital personnel, including a security guard, were taken into custody for questioning as part of preliminary investigations.

Efforts to obtain an official statement from the hospital’s management were unsuccessful as of press time.

Confirming the development, the spokesperson for the Ekiti State Police Command, SP Sunday Abutu, said four suspects had been arrested in connection with the case.

He disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, Joseph Eribo, had ordered a full-scale investigation led by the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID.

“The Commissioner of Police has directed the State CID to thoroughly investigate the case and ensure that the missing baby is found,” SP Abutu stated. “So far, four persons have been arrested and are currently providing useful information to assist in our ongoing investigation.”