The Federal government, in collaboration with Oyo State, is enhancing obstetric emergency and neonatal care services as it sets out to ensure that at least one functional secondary healthcare facility in each local government can effectively address emergency cases during childbirth and for newborns.
The National Coordinator of the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) office, Dr Muntaqa Umar-Sadiq, who spoke at the dissemination meeting for the Comprehensive Emergency Obstetrics and Newborn Care (CEmONC) assessment report held at the Oyo State Ministry of Health, said it is part of the efforts to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality rates in Nigeria.
Umar Sadiq, represented by Mr Omoruyi Iyahen, stated that increasing the number of facilities equipped with the readiness and resilience to provide comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care services is essential for addressing these negative health indicators.
He declared “They visited each of the 33 local governments in Oyo State to assess the readiness of health facilities for comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care services. The prepared documents include the bill of quantities, power needs assessment, and other things.
“Our mission is to assure them that Oyo State is not alone in this endeavour. This is a national initiative. The minister aims to ensure that before he leaves office, the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels of healthcare meet established standards. I am confident that the governor and his health team are committed to collaborating with us and our partners to ensure that Oyo State achieves its healthcare goals.”
Oyo State Commissioner of Health, Dr Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, who unveiled the report, stated that the identified deficiencies in the secondary care facilities selected for comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care services in Oyo State would be addressed.
“While we have been providing obstetric and neonatal care, it has not been comprehensive. The primary care centres are being revitalized; when they encounter issues, they refer patients to the appropriate secondary care facilities. Therefore, these secondary care facilities need to be upgraded to a level where they can deliver comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care services,” she added.
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Chairman of the Oyo State Primary Healthcare Board, Honourable Dada Awoleye, stated that the intervention will establish an effective referral system from primary healthcare centres to secondary care facilities, ensuring comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care services.
Chairman of the Oyo State Hospital Management Board, Dr Akin Fagbemi, stated that the state government’s priority is sustainable healthcare delivery, including at the secondary healthcare level.
“Oyo government has just recruited various categories of healthcare workers, and they require a highly conducive environment. Patients can expect better facilities from the state government, he declared.
The CEmONC focal person for the state, Dr Asiaft Ijadunola, stated that the key findings of the CEmONC assessment indicated a need for upgrades in selected secondary healthcare facilities, as well as for adequate human resources and capacity building for all healthcare workers to effectively provide these services.
According to the report, “Only one of these health facilities had all the necessary infrastructure and equipment required to provide all nine conventional signal functions. And only one of the health facilities was well-equipped to provide all twelve comprehensive neonatal care signal functions.
“The assessment of infrastructure and power need assessment across the 33 selected healthcare facilities in the state revealed significant deficiencies in essential healthcare infrastructure, power supply, and water availability.
“Many hospitals suffer from inadequate spatial capacity, deteriorating building structures, defective plumbing and electrical fittings, and a lack of necessary equipment. The assessment also highlighted the absence or malfunction of solar power systems and borehole water supply, both of which are critical for the uninterrupted operation of healthcare services.”
