Wife of the Enugu State Governor, Nkechinyere Mbah, yesterday, launched the “Mama Care Initiative” where 1,701 pregnant women were enrolled on a one-year health insurance premium.
Mrs Mbah, who also doled out financial supports and foodstuffs to expectant mothers drawn from the 17 local council areas of the state, said that Mama Care, which is an initiative of the Office of the Wife of the Governor of the Enugu State and her pet project, the Custos Care Foundation, is aimed at boosting government’s effort to eradicate maternal and infant mortality in the state.
This was even as the Commissioner for Health, Enugu State, Prof. Emmanuel Obi, described the gesture as a major millage for the Governor Peter Mbah’s many initiatives to bring government closer to the grassroots through the construction of 260 Type 2 Primary Healthcare Centres, many of which are already nearing completion.
Throwing more light on the Mama Care Initiative, Mbah said: “Too often, the joy of pregnancy is overshadowed by the fear and uncertainty brought about by financial constraints, leading many women to seek the services of traditional birth attendants.
While these attendants have served their communities for generations, the realities of modern healthcare necessitate a shift towards equipped facilities to handle the complexities of childbirth.
“Through the Mama Care Initiative, we are taking decisive action to bridge this gap by paying for a one-year health insurance premium for 1,701 pregnant women across our 17 local council areas, ensuring that 100 women from each council will have access to comprehensive healthcare services, which includes not only antenatal care but also the safe and supervised conditions necessary for delivery in our hospitals and healthcare centres.
