Gov Eno Charges TBAs Against Involvement In Tough, Complicated Labour Cases

By Bassey Nkponam 
UYO
To ensure the control and possible decrease in maternal mortality, the Akwa Ibom governor has charged Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) against attending to labour cases when it becomes tough and complicated due to traditional, religious or superstitious beliefs.
Pastor Umo Eno, who gave the charge, Monday, during the 2025 State Convention of Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs), which took place at Ibom Hall Grounds, Uyo, warned them against insisting on attending to tough labour cases, advising them not to attend to any labour cases in their homes but should go with pregnant mothers to the hospitals where they could access free healthcare services which covers labour, as government has enrolled them in the health insurance scheme. 
According to him, TBAs who record deaths of pregnant mothers in their homes will have their licences retrieved and also charged to court.
He encouraged them to always refer pregnant women to the hospital, and help them work with the health care insurance agencies to procure their insurance where they do not have any, as government intends to support that to enable them have good healthcare services.
“Please go with them to the hospitals.They won’t pay anything because government has given them health insurance and this will help them put to birth free of charge. A doctor will be there, nurses will be there and you will be there too.
“Our health insurance scheme is just eighteen thousand Naira. Delivery is part of the eighteen thousand Naira. With this amount, you get free healthcare services, and if you are to have a baby, it is also part of it. So please when they come, call us and ensure that they have health insurance so that those who are less privileged can be attended to.
“We will always encourage our mothers, please refer these women to the hospital, and where they don’t have health insurance, help them work with the health care insurance agencies to procure health insurance for these women. Government will support that so that they can have good healthcare services.
“I rather pay health insurance for N18,000 to save a life than to pay a hundred million to bury anybody. So, I want TBAs to become recruiting agencies so that we can through you register all these women. When they come to you, ask them if they have health insurance. If they don’t have, we will give you a number to reach our health agency so that they can come and give them insurance while you continue to help them with prayers.
“Yes, prayer cannot be exempted in maternity issues. But when labour approaches, go with them to the hospital because we now have health care centres in all local governments. So it is the duty of our TBAs to pray for them, prepare them. But when the labour comes, they can now bring them to health centres because they already have insurance.
“Government will partner with you through the Ministry of Health. But let me again appeal, do not insist on attending to labour cases when it becomes tough and complicated due to some traditional, religious or superstitious beliefs, because if anything happens, your licence will be retrieved and we’ll sue you”.
He thanked them for supporting him during his campaign, as they rallied their members and convinced them to believe in his mission, adding, “Today, because you trusted 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 investment in the health sector”.
In his welcome address at the event, the president, Akwa Ibom State Traditional Birth Attendants, Comrade Otobong George, thanked Governor Eno for identifying with them and showing interest to bring innovations to better their mediating role in care giving.
George emphasised the importance of TBAs in the provision of immediate care in the case of inaccessibility to medical facilities, calling 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.