The Ekiti State government in partnership with the
Immunization Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services(IMPACT) project has recruited 100 skilled birth attendants to strengthen maternal and infant health services in the state.
Speaking at the orientation programme for the newly recruited birth attendants in Ado-Ekiti, the Chairman of Ekiti State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Funke Ogunbunmi said that the employment of new health staff was to fill the noticable human resources gaps in the primary healthcare level of the state.
Dr Ogunbunmi noted that as skilled birth attendants they are expected to assist and support facilities in delivering qualitative maternal and child health care services in the communities.
The board Chairman lauded Governor Biodun Oyebanji for his great impact, investment and interventions in the health sector of the state noting that such interventions have transformed the health status of the state in recent time.
In his address, the Executive Secretary Ekiti State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Rasheed Adepoju expressed hope that the newly engaged workers would add values to the system by providing quality healthcare to the health seeking population at the grassroot.
Dr Adepoju charged them to justify the confidence the government has in them by being committed to their duties and help the state in reducing maternal and under -five mortality rate.
While assuring the new intakes of great career progression with lots of training opportunities and exposure at the Primary Health Care system, the Executive secretary called on them to be of good behaviour to all clients to increase service utilization and ensure improved outcomes at the facilities.
Earlier in his remarks. the Project Manager ,Immunization Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services (IMPACT) Project, Dr Sunday Omoya said that the IMPACT project recently engaged skilled birth attendants namely nurses, midwives and Community Health Officers to help increase the numbers of skilled birth attendants that will be available to attend to pregnant mothers and children at the primary health centres across the state.
Dr Omoya said that the main objective of the IMPACT Project is to reduce maternal and under five mortality, hence the need to strengthen the primary healthcare structures through the engagement of the 100 skilled birth attendants to help compliment existing staff in delivering quality care at the graasroot.
The Project Manager disclosed the the newly engaged workers will be integrated into the Ekiti state public service through the Local Government Service Commission after the expiration of their one year contract with IMPACT project at the facilities once they show evidence of dedication to duty.
He noted that the orientation was to provide necessary information to ensure a smooth integration of the skilled birth attendants into the primary health care as well as providing foundation for quality health care delivery and ensure the right orientation to care amongst others.
Some of the beneficiaries Adebayo Oluwatosin and Omotoso Hannah appreciated Ekiti state government and IMPACT project for the opportunity to serve.