Imo State Unveils Strategy to Ensure No Woman Dies in Childbirth

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.