Ebonyi, UNFPA Take Maternal Health Fight to Rural Areas With Integrated Outreach
The Ebonyi State Ministry of Health, in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA, has scaled up efforts to reduce maternal and child mortality through an Integrated Family Planning Community Outreach targeting underserved communities across the state.
The exercise, held on Thursday in Onuebonyi, Abakaliki Local Government Area, delivered free health education and services including family planning, early antenatal booking, facility delivery, child immunization, nutrition counselling, malaria testing, HIV and hepatitis screening, cancer screening, and other reproductive health services.
The Reproductive Health Coordinator, Ebonyi State Ministry of Health, Mrs. Charity Nnenna Okporo, said the program was designed to address the root causes of maternal and child deaths.
“We also educate people on early antenatal booking, facility delivery, malaria testing before treatment, HIV, hepatitis and cancer screening, issues that cause deaths among mothers and children,” she said.
“We deliberately involve fathers because they play a critical role in supporting women to access healthcare.”
Okporo added that taking services to communities bridges the information gap, especially for women who delay antenatal registration. She expressed optimism that the knowledge gained would translate to healthier practices and better health outcomes.
The State Family Planning Coordinator, Mrs. Christiana Ikechukwu, described child birth spacing as one of the most effective strategies for reducing maternal mortality.
“When women space pregnancies adequately, they recover physically and complications are reduced,” she explained.
She said the outreach was extended to rural areas across all 13 LGAs to ensure “no woman is left behind.” The team also promotes facility delivery so mothers and newborns can access essential care, including life-saving vaccines.
Ikechukwu commended Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru and the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Moses Ikenna Ekuma, for prioritizing maternal health through the enrollment of pregnant women into the Ebonyi State Health Insurance Agency, EBSHIA, which provides free antenatal services.
She also appreciated UNFPA for funding the outreach and supplying logistics and family planning commodities.
Community Health Officer, Mrs. Oluchi Eme, said mobilization was done through health centers and town criers ahead of the outreach.
A major focus, she said, was correcting the misconception that family planning causes permanent infertility.
“We let them know that family planning is simply child spacing and that services are confidential,” she said.
Beneficiary, Mrs. Agbom Goodness, said the session changed her mindset.
“I used to believe that once you do family planning you cannot get pregnant again. Today I learnt that it is not true. I am no longer afraid and I will use family planning when I am ready,” she said.
The Family Planning Supervisor for Abakaliki LGA, Mrs. Chima Kindness, identified myths and fear of side effects as major barriers in rural areas. She said health workers now offer one-on-one counselling to help women make informed choices.
She commended UNFPA for ensuring steady supply of commodities and pledged that the outreach would continue in vulnerable communities to boost awareness and reduce maternal and child deaths across Ebonyi.