NMA To Partner Ministry Of Women Affairs in Reducing Maternal Mortality

The Nigerian Medical Association, Akwa Ibom State Branch is seeking partnership with the Ministry of Women Affairs Akwa Ibom State towards the fight against Maternal Mortality. This was stated by the AKS NMA Chairman, Dr Nsikak Nyoyoko, during a courtesy call on Dr Glory Edet, Commissioner Ministry of Women Affairs and Agriculture. 

In his presentation, Dr Nyoyoko revealed that the NMA had always catered specifically for the girl child and women in general. Dr Nyoyoko said NMA's affiliate, The Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN) carries out breast and cervical cancer screening for women in Akwa Ibom State regularly.  While the NMA complements by delivering talks to adolescent girls on menstrual hygiene and sexually transmitted infections in schools and other facilities. 

He revealed that NMA was going a step further by fighting maternal mortality through the Maternal Mortality Reduction Project, MMRP as Nigeria contributes about 13% of cases of maternal Mortality worldwide. 

The NMA decried the worrisome state of the General Hospital in Ini LGA; noting that the patient flow was abysmally low. The doctors implored the commissioner who hails from the area to assist in the revitalization of the hospital to a standard similar to that of the neighboring General Hospital ,Ikono LGA.

To improve patient flow, and increase awareness of the people to good health seeking behavior, the NMA proposed a free medical outreach at General Hospital, Ini LGA; so as to get the people exposed to the facility. 

The NMA Chairman further commended the Ministry in it's roles towards enhancing the welfare of orphans, displaced kids and mentally unstable persons and promised that the association will visit some orphanages in the state during The Physicians Week later this year.

 Dr Nyoyoko demanded for the enactment of Mental Health Bill to cater for mentally unstable persons. 

In her response, The Commissioner Ministry of Women Affairs and Agriculture, Dr Glory Edet thanked the NMA AKS for accepting to partner with the ministry in providing qualitative health care to women, children and mentally unstable persons. She however frowned at the poor work ethic of some health professionals working at general hospital Ini LGA and requested NMA's assistance towards reversing the trend. She assured the NMA of the State Government's readiness to continually partner the association in enhancing health care delivery as health was wealth. 

Part of the NMA delegation were Drs Ema Inyang (Secretary) ;  Aniekpeno Eyo (Asst Secretary) Emmanuel John (PRO) and Prof Eyo Ekpe (editor Ibom medical Journal) as well as Directors, permanent Secretaries and other management staff of the ministries.