The Anambra State Government says over 100 babies were delivered in the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in the state during the 2022 flood disaster.
Dr Afam Obidike, state’s Commissioner for Health, made the disclosure while taking the delivery of about 1,212 Mama Kits donated by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Awka.
Obidike said that during the flooding, many pregnant women ran out of their homes for safety without packing their delivery kits.
“During the 2022 flood disaster, we had over 100 deliveries at the IDP camps. This prompted the Wife of the Governor, Dr Nonye Soludo, to donate mama kits to expectant mothers and sponsored antenatal care at the camps.
“She also urged partners and well-meaning individuals to donate mama kits to save and encourage expectant mothers to go for antenatal.
“This is why UNICEF is donating these delivery kits to the state. We will distribute it in flood-prone and hard-to-reach areas as incentives to encourage pregnant women to register and go for antenatal.
“This will also prevent and reduce maternal deaths in the state,” he said
The Commissioner described mama kit as an all-in-one kit that provides prospective mothers with everything they need to have a sanitary and safe delivery.
He identified mackintosh, olive oil, umbilical cord ligature, surgical knife, baby wrapper, laundry soap, gloves, cotton wool, and small gauze as some of the items in the kit.
Obidike said that the state government is intensifying efforts to improve maternal health and encouraging pregnant women to deliver at a health facility.
Also speaking, Dr Obianuju Okoye, state Reproductive Health Coordinator, said that the kits are donated to relieve the state emergency flood response as well as reduce the burden and cost of delivery in the state.
“From our data, there was a slight increase in maternal deaths due to the 2022 flood disaster, and this is one of the interventions to reduce such deaths, ” Okoye said.