Joe Effiong, Uyo

About 300 pregnant women drawn from the 31 local government areas of Akwa Ibom State, have benefited from the third phase of free medical care, and maternity packs from Mrs Martha, Usom Emmanuel’s Pregnacare Outreach.

The outreach, one of the governor’s healthcare packages was initiated to reduce infant morbidity and maternal mortality in the state.

The programme with the theme: “Pregnancy, Child Birth and Beyond,” is a brainchild of Family Empowerment and Youth Reorientation Path-Initiative, (FEYReP), a pet project of the Akwa Ibom State governor’s wife, Mrs. Martha Udom Emmanuel.

Mrs Emmanuel, while addressing guests at the event, said the outreach is geared towards reducing child death at birth. She noted that over the years, it had been used to educate and assist expectant mothers to cope with the demands of pregnancy.

Although emphasising that she was not against the practice of traditional birth attendants, she expressed concern about the procedure of delivery in those homes, stating that there had been unwarranted cases of death and transmission of deadly diseases from them.

She, therefore, encouraged the pregnant women to register for their antenatal in time and always seek medical attention whenever the need arises.

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According to her, good dieting, family planning, and to supporting their husbands by engaging in economic activity would ameliorate their sufferings after pregnancy.

Coordinator of FEYReP, Mrs. Ime E. Inyang, in her address on the occasion, appreciated the governor’s wife for the programme, averring that it is geared towards addressing pregnancy-related issues.

She charged the women to adhere wholly to the teachings they received, noting that as a result of the initiative, succour had located so many families. She also restated Mrs. Emmanuel’s unbridled commitment to the welfare of women, pointing out that more of such programme would be rolled out in the nearest future.

A health talks were given by the Hon. Commissioner for Health, Dr. Dominic Ukpong, on the topic: “Traditional Birth Attendants, their role in Pregnancy and Child Delivery,” Dr. Enobong Mkpang on “Delivery and Postnatal Delivery Challenges”Dr Imabong Inwang, “Foetal Development and Trimesters in Pregnancy,” and Dr. Mary Udoh who spoke on “Preventing Infant Morbidity and Maternal mortality (Harmful Practices).”

All the talks all charged the women on good dietary, pregnancy-related ailments and the need for proper medical attention during pregnancy.

The resource persons spoke against pregnant mothers’ patronage of Traditional Birth Attendants, urging them to always engage in proper medical check-ups in order to detect early anomaly during pregnancy.

The beneficiaries thanked the governor’s wife for the platform to educate them, stating that the effort would drastically reduce pregnancy-related deaths in the state.