Ninety-Eighty women trained as Community Health Workers (CHW) under the auspices of the Caring Family Enhancement Initiative (CAFÉ), NGO of the wife of Governor of Anambra State, Chief (Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano were recently further empowered to enhance their effectiveness on the job.
During the programme held at the Governors’ Lodge Amawbia, the Health Assistants who work in remote communities across Anambra State also received the pleasant news of their deployment under the payroll of the Ministry of Health which would henceforth handle the payment of their stipend.
Addressing the Community Health Workers, the wife of the Governor reminded them that a lot of resources had been committed to train and equip them to fulfill important health needs in the rural communities so as to help stop high mortality rate especially amongst pregnant women.
Mrs. Obiano further told the women to always remember what they were thought and know that their role was to assist in emergencies.
She said,“I want you all to take your jobs seriously because you have been empowered as part of the plans to improve the lives and health of Ndi Anambra. I am aware that the government has redoubled its efforts since we made a case for the remote areas with your training. The Governor has therefore graciously approved your recognition as part of the programme to spread healthcare far and wide to remote communities as health aides to assist the professional medical staff.”
“I expect that you should be able to summon village square meetings of women to teach them how to take care of children with foods of high nutrient content that are not very expensive. Also teach the pregnant women on how to stay healthy during pregnancy and also get help for them in case of labour.”
Mrs. Obiano commended the women for availing themselves the opportunity for the training and charged them to make effective use of the mobile phones by ensuring that their people could contact them and also contact health officials; and use the motorcycles with baby cots as well as other materials given to them to save lives, especially during emergencies.
She equally assured that the challenges reported with their work tools and motorcycle with baby cot would be improved for ease of access to very interior terrain.
In his remarks, the Hon Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joe Akabike said that when the wife of the Governor introduced the Community Health Workers’ initiative “we were looking for ways to make it work and today we are happy to say it is a well thought out scheme. You have been trained as special health workers to assist in the remote areas where there are not enough Doctors and Nurses.”
According to Dr. Akabike, “you are largely expected to attend to women in emergency situation in communities to avoid untimely death. I am happy that you recognize that you are not Nurses or Midwives but have been trained to bridge the gap in the rural communities to stem the prevalence of high maternal death by ensuring that patients get professional health care on time. Yours is a call to service and we assure you that we will continue to train you and equip you for the job.”
The Commissioner for Health also reminded the Community Health workers that they were CAFE Ambassadors because they represent CAFE through their activities in the area of health in the rural communities.
Speaking earlier, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth Mobilization and Empowerment, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim informed the Community Health Workers of an opportunity for retraining for them under the World Bank which has a provision for the empowerment of those who will help combat HIV/AIDS.
He stressed that the health challenge was such that needed advocates in rural communities where they had a role to play.
In a vote of thanks, one of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Vivian Nnanyelugo thanked the Wife of the Governor for the opportunity she had given them which had attracted the recognition from other important persons and government and promised her that they would justify the confidence reposed in them.
Photo Caption
Pix 1: Wife of the Governor of Anambra State, Chief (Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano and the Community Health Workers during their Empowerment at the Governor’s Lodge Amawbia recently.
Pix 2: Wife of the Governor of Anambra State, Chief (Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano (centre) flanked by former APGA Women Leader, Mrs. Chinyere Ibenta and Commissioner for Health, Hon Joe Akabike during the Empowerment of the Community Health Workers at Governor’s Lodge Amawbia recently.
Pix 3: Wife of the Governor of Anambra State, Chief (Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano and Commissioner for Health, Hon Joe Akabike during the Empowerment of the Community Health Workers at Governor’s Lodge Amawbia recently.
Pix 4: Cross-section of the Community Health Workers during their Empowerment at the Governor’s Lodge Amawbia recently.
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