Ebonyi State Free Maternal Healthcare Program at a Glance

Maternal Mortality has remained a serious problem in Nigeria in general and Ebonyi State in particular.

In Ebonyi State, the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) is unacceptably high. The estimated ratio is about 1000 per 100,000 live births. This is well above the WHO estimate of 800 per 100,000 live births. This statistics is hospital-based simulating an iceberg phenomenon as our people do not usually access hospital services.

According to the program manager of Ebonyi State Free Maternal Healthcare (EFMC), Dr Hyacinth Okwe Ebenyi, the underlying factors that account for the high MMR in the State include:

1. Poverty (especially in the rural areas)
2. Ignorance
3. Cultural belief
4. Inadequate health facilities
5. Unskilled birth attendants

These predisposes to some risk factors and major causes of maternal mortality and morbidity, such as grand multi-parity, hemorrhage, anemia, unsafe abortion, sepsis, etc.

Free maternal health services were introduced in the state in 2003 by the immediate past administration. This was however limited to the State Teaching Hospital. The package was comprehensive in providing total obstetric care including emergency obstetric care (EOC) to the beneficiaries. Unfortunately the target group, poor rural dwellers, were missed due to un-awareness, bad road networks, poverty, first and second level delays, etc. These factors prevented the target group from accessing the treatment except in cases of extreme complications in which case either the baby, the mother or both were lost.

The present administration under His Excellency, Chief Martin Elechi therefore extended the services to all the 13 Secondary Health facilities in the State. He equally gave grants up to N600,000,000 (Six Hundred Million Naira) to six rural private hospitals to commence free maternal services in their domains.

The Free Maternal Healthcare Program is a package that provides qualitative and comprehensive maternal and child health services.

Scope

The EFMC scope of service covers the following:

• I. Antenatal care (ANC) 12-40 weeks, including routine laboratory investigations and drugs.
• II. All delivery including basic emergency obstetric care (BEOC) and emergency obstetric care (EOC).
• III. Postnatal care up to 6 weeks.
• IV. Family planning.
• V. Ambulance services.

Her Excellency the Wife of the Executive Governor, Chief Mrs. Josephine Elechi, in addition has the Mother and Child Care Initiative (MCCI) program that provides the enabling ground for the operation of the Free Maternal Healthcare Program. A component of the MCCI programme (Maternal Mortality Monitoring Law of Ebonyi State) compels all pregnant women in the State to access medication in the hospitals and as well regulates the activities of quacks and other healthcare providers.

Dr. Ebenyi proclaims that the program is gradually making a positive impact with respect to ANC attendance, hospital delivery and reduction in maternal and child deaths and morbidity especially in the assisted private health facilities.

Free Maternal Healthcare is a capital intensive project that cannot be sustained by government financial provisions alone. The Programme Manager of Ebonyi Free Maternal Healthcare Program, Dr. Ebenyi, therefore solicits the assistance of donor agencies, NGOs, private and public organizations, financial institutions (especially those with offices within the State) and the general public to help in the following areas of need:

1. Vehicles
2. Drugs and consumables
3. Cash

Please help to reduce the abysmally high MMR in the State.

Thanks!.