Delta State government has sacked workers while others were demoted for extorting money from pregnant women and children under five for drugs.
Commissioner for Health, Dr Joseph Onojaeme, disclosed this on Saturday, at Ashaka, Ndokwa East local government area, during the flag-off of the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation and Initiatives (MAMII) Project Action Plan, stating there is free healthcare policy for pregnant women and children.
While commending most health workers for their dedication, Onojaeme revealed that some had been sanctioned for collecting money, while still forwarding the bills to the government for payment.
He emphasized that all pregnant women in Delta State are entitled to free healthcare until delivery, while children under five also receive free medical treatment.
He assured that monitoring would continue to ensure that funds released for maternal and child healthcare were properly utilised.
He encouraged residents to report any health worker demanding payment, adding that the phone number of the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Health Monitoring would be made public for such reports.
“Health workers in the state have done well, but in every twelve, there is a Judas. We have received reports of some collecting money from pregnant women and children under five for drugs, while still forwarding the bills to the government for payment,” he said.
He expressed optimism that the programme would further reduce maternal and child deaths in the state.
He disclosed the state has recorded a significant reduction in maternal mortality, with figures dropping from over 200 to less than 120 per 100,000 live births, according to the State.
The representative of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr John Ovuoraye, pledged federal government support to states in tackling maternal and neonatal mortality.
He noted that 172 local government areas across 33 states had been identified as high-risk zones, including five in Delta:—Ndokwa East, Ughelli North, Aniocha North, Udu and Sapele.
Ovuoraye added that the MAMII Project, backed by President Bola Tinubu, is being implemented in collaboration with USAID, WHO, UNICEF, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the World Bank, and several European partners.
