Anambra State Government has donated one hundred and twenty anti-shock garments to General hospitals and mission-owned health facilities in the State.
The Governor’s wife, Nonye Soludo, who presented the materials to representatives of the benefiting health facilities at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia, said that even though Anambra State has done so well in cutting down maternal and infant mortality figures; compared with other states in Nigeria, the device is needed to further cut down the number to zero level.
An anti-shock garment, according to Wikipedia, “is a stretchy wrap that stabilises a woman in shock from postpartum hemorrhage by applying pressure to her lower body and abdomen. This device adds time to seek treatment, and this can save a woman’s life.”
The procurement of the anti-shock garments is part of the recommendations of Maternal Mortality Review carried out recently to seek avenues to bring down completely the current number of maternal and infant mortality cases in the State.
The review board was headed by the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mrs Chiamaka Nnake.
Speaking at the event, Mrs Soludo explained that the present administration in Anambra State is investing heavily in the health sector because of how crucial it is to the overall development of the state’s human resources.
The Governor’s wife further asked hospitals that received the devices to put them into good use; as the government is keen to achieve least cases of postpartum bleeding in all the health facilities in the State.
She also used the platform to brief the beneficiaries on her ongoing healthy living campaign and urged them to adopt the lessons for their personal and family health.
Earlier, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike, said that the anti-shock garments will prevent cases of postpartum bleeding, noting that eleven percent of mortality cases occur because of a lack of anti-shock garments in health facilities.
He said that the material could be reused over one hundred and forty-four times, explaining that the target is to reduce preventable causes of maternal deaths in the first forty-eight hours of delivery.
According to the Commissioner, plans are already in progress to procure the device for all the primary healthcare facilities in Anambra.
On her part, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mrs Chiamaka Nnake, said that the gadgets will be crucial in saving the lives of women as severe maternal emergencies that require the kits can now be technically checked.
