Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, has directed key officials of the Imo State Health Insurance Agency (IMSHIA) to ensure that no pregnant woman dies during childbirth in any part of the state.

He also directed that women accessing care in private or informal settings be brought under the protective umbrella of IMSHIA.

Uzodimma, represented by the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of IMSHIA, Dr. Uchenna Ewelike, gave the directive on Tuesday during a meeting in Owerri with the coordinators of the Primary Health Care (PHC) in the 27 local government councils of the state.

He maintained that the coordinators should recognise that life is sacred, hence the compelling need to preserve the lives of pregnant women in labour situations, noting that “health and safety” were paramount.

He directed: “No woman should perish while giving birth. This clarion call, backed by fresh funding, signals a renewed commitment to weave a robust safety net for maternal care through the Imo State Health Insurance Scheme, particularly under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund.”

Uzodimma urged every woman to buy into the strategy by enrolling in the state’s health insurance framework to ensure access to free maternal care.

The governor stressed that the coordinators should regard themselves as key personnel for primary health service delivery, which is critical to an inclusive and effective health programme.

He directed the coordinators to position themselves uniquely in order to carry out the initiative.

The forum, The Guardian learnt, also centred on the need to capture pregnant women who are seeking treatment outside the state’s 305 primary health facilities.

The coordinators were also urged to leverage their local knowledge to identify barriers, designs, logistics, and necessary prompt information to achieve the objective.

“This safety net is particularly vital in emergencies, where timely access to quality care can mean the difference between life and death,” Uzodimma declared.