JUTH  commences free obstetrics services for vulnerable women

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Obstetrics

By Blessing Odega

The Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) has commenced free obstetrics services for indigent women to curb rising maternal mortality.

Dr Pokop Bupwatda, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of JUTH, said this on Wednesday in Jos, during the inauguration of a standing committee for Comprehensive Emergency Obstetrics and NewbornCare (CEMONC) services in JUTH.

Bupwatda said CEMONC was being provided by the Federal Government through the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).

He said the service aimed at eliminating barriers to quality maternal healthcare, saving lives, and helping vulnerable women understand the importance of skilled healthcare services during pregnancy and childbirth.

The CMD said the programme was changing the narrative of maternal healthcare in Nigeria by reducing cases of avoidable maternal mortality and morbidity.

He explained that the beneficiaries would be selected and vetted by the committee to ensure that they were actually indigent women.

Bupwatda said that after screening, the women would have to register with the hospital to access the free services.

He urged the committee to be proactive in the discharge of its duty of ensuring the reduction to the barest minimum, incidences of maternal and neonatal mortality.

Prof. Shambe Iornum, chairman of the CEMONC committee, and Head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (O&G) in JUTH, commended the CMD for finding the committee worthy of executing the task.

Iornum expressed sadness that one of the worst health indices in Nigeria was maternal mortality.

He said that most of the victims of maternal mortality and morbidity were usually indigent.

The chairman assured the CMD that the committee would be efficient in the discharge of its duty.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the committee is made up of nine members from various departments of the hospital and a focal person for the NHIA. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Nyisom Fiyigon Dore

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