By Cletus Asuquo
In a bid to enhance maternal and child healthcare in the state, the Akwa Ibom State Government has announced plans to train and certify 4,000 Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) across the state.
The training program, aimed at integrating TBAs into the healthcare system, will equip them with the skills to provide better care to pregnant women and newborns, especially in rural areas where medical facilities are scarce.
The State Governor pastor Umo Eno made this known while addressing the practitioners at their 2025 State Convention held on Tuesday at Ibom Hall, in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State Capital.
He issued a directive to the Ministry of Health, to undertake the training of practitioners to certify them as community healthcare workers.
He acknowledged the role of Traditional Birth Attendants as a part of the State’s social fabric given their role in caring for pregnant women and therefore directed that, upon acquiring the skills, they should be upgraded and incorporated into the primary healthcare system of the State.
He expressed optimism that with training, the profile of the TBAs and their wealth of experience as providers of essential services, will be further enhanced to aid healthcare delivery in the State and will align their practice with current medical advancements and standards.
“As society evolves, and old approaches get subjected to modern and advanced methods to ensure wholesome and holistic outcomes, I wish to implore and advice that, you also, if I may add, reinvent your methods of carrying out your duties. We are willing to partner with you to train, supervise and certify your members so that the service you provide are aligned with contemporary methods thus making it more acceptable to the larger society.”
Expressing gratitude for the confidence and trust the group exhibited by supporting his emergence in the 2023 elections, as well as their endorsement for him to go for second term, Governor Eno reaffirmed his commitment to making them a critical component of his ARISE Agenda by touching lives and ensuring a healthy and productive population through investment in the healthcare sector.
“You rallied your members and convinced them to believe in our mission and today, because you trusted us and believed in us, we are doing our best across all sectors and in line with our ARISE Agenda to touch lives, expand growth and ensure a healthy and productive population through our investments in the healthcare sector.
“We are doing a lot in healthcare service. Soon, we will flag-off our Mother-Child Hospital to be located along our Medical Corridor. We are building more primary healthcare facilities across the ten federal constituencies. Once the trainings are concluded, you will be assigned to these primary healthcare facilities where your skills garnered traditionally will align with trainings you have received and we will all be winners.”- He said.
The President, Akwa Ibom State Traditional Birth Attendants, Comrade Otobong George, in his welcome remarks, thanked the Governor for identifying with them and showing interest in bringing innovation to their profession.
Comrade George who further emphasized the importance of TBAs in the provision of immediate care in the case of inaccessibility to medical facilities, called on the government to support the institution’s drive to better the practice by making relevant laws that would regulate activities of practitioners and ensure adequate control.
The President, along side the entire members, who were delighted at the development strides of the Governor, especially in the health sector, unanimously declared their support for Governor Umo Eno to go for a second term in 2027.
According to the state government, the training will focus on modern healthcare practices, enabling TBAs to identify complications during pregnancy and childbirth and refer them to medical facilities when necessary.
Upon completion of their training, TBAs will be certified and absorbed into the state’s primary healthcare system as Community Health Workers. They will be attached to Primary Health Care facilities across the state, providing essential healthcare services to rural communities.
This initiative is expected to improve maternal and child healthcare in Akwa Ibom State, reducing the risk of complications during pregnancy and childbirth.
