Executive Secretary, Rivers State Primary Health Care Management Board, Prof. Kinikanwo Innocent Green has stressed the importance of life-saving skills and trainings, particularly those geared towards equipping health workers with knowledge of Basic Emergency Obstetrics and Newborn Care (BEMoNC), a crucial intervention aimed at reducing maternal and infant mortality in Rivers State.
Prof. Green, who made the remarks recently in Port Harcourt during a five-day training programme for nurses and midwives across the 23 councils of the state, urged participants to seize the opportunity to enhance their understanding of maternal and child health services in the state..
He commended the trainees for their steadfastness at the training, stressing that their roles are crucial, especially in situations where doctors may not be available during childbirth and encouraging them to always apply the knowledge garnered from the training to recognise signs of labour so as to be proactive in delivering quality care at the various health centres across the state.
Prof. Green commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for ensuring the implementation of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and its adoption in Rivers State.
He highlighted some of the achievements of the Board the World Bank funded IMPACT Malaria Plus programme, which includes the recruitment of no fewer than 203 skilled birth attendants who are currently deployed to 348 health centres, significantly advancing the state’s manpower gap.
Prof. Green, who reaffirmed the Board’s commitment to the BEMoNC training, applauded the organisers for the array of obstetricians, gynecologists, pediatricians and other health experts who were mobilized to facilitate the training, and specifically commended Prof. Rosemary Ogu of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) for her continuous support for capacity building.
He also congratulated the trainees at the end of the five-day training programme, adding that their commitment underscored the critical nature of their roles in childbirth, while reiterating that training and retraining of skilled birth attendants remain a core mandate of the Board, even as he acknowledged the various facilitators and the unflinching support of all stakeholders.
Speaking with the media on the sidelines of the training programme, the State Focal Person, Basic Health Care Provision Fund, Mr. Buduzhi Gift Oguzor, who attributed the success of the training programme to God, urged trainees to ensure improved service delivery and enjoined them to make good use of the knowledge acquired during the training.
Some of the personalities that attended the training programme are the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics of the Health Management Board, Dr. Siyeofori Dede and the Director, Community Health Services of the Board, Dr. Joy Wihioka, among others.
