Akwa Ibom to assign traditional birth attendants to health centres

The Akwa Ibom state government has announced plans to train, supervise, and certify traditional birth attendants (TBAs) as part of efforts to upgrade their skills in line with current best practices.

Governor Umo Eno made this known during the 2025 State Convention of TBAs at Ibom Hall, Uyo,

According to the governor, there is a need to modernize the practices of traditional birth attendance to align with contemporary healthcare standards.

“The world is evolving, and as old methods give way to more advanced approaches, I urge you to embrace modern training. We are ready to partner with you to ensure your services meet contemporary healthcare standards, making them more acceptable to society,” Gov. Eno stated.

Traditional birth attendants play a significant role in maternal and child healthcare in Nigeria, particularly in rural and underserved communities where access to formal healthcare is limited.

These attendants provide pregnancy care, assist with childbirth, and offer postnatal support using indigenous knowledge and practices. Despite their cultural relevance and accessibility, TBAs face several challenges that impact maternal and child health outcomes.

One major challenge is the lack of formal medical training, which limits their ability to handle complications such as obstructed labour, haemorrhage, and infections. According to the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) 2018, about 20% of births in Nigeria are attended by TBAs, with higher reliance in rural areas.

Data

Countries with extremely high maternal mortality rates are South Sudan with 1223 deaths, followed by Chad with 1063 deaths and Nigeria with 1047 deaths per 100 000 live births,

However, maternal mortality remains high, with Nigeria accounting for 1047 deaths per 100 000 live births, according to the World Health Organisation’ 2023 analytical fact sheet.

The reliance on TBAs has significant implications for maternal and new-born health. While they provide critical support in remote areas, their limitations in emergency care could contribute to Nigeria’s high maternal and infant mortality rates.

Gov. Eno stated that more primary healthcare centres would be constructed across the state, providing opportunities for trained TBAs to be assigned to these facilities, where their skills will be aligned with the training they receive from the government.

He said their trust and support had enabled his administration to drive growth and improve lives through the ARISE Agenda, with significant investments 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,” the governor said.