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The first time I come in contact with the Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) as a formidable group was at the Campaign ground during the build up to the 2023 election. They came out en masse to endorse Pastor Umo Eno as their preferred candidate. The Governor received them and promise to work with them when he wins the 2023 gubernatorial election and become the Governor of Akwa Ibom State. Prior to the time, I never knew they were that organised.
I am particularly happy that the Governor, being a promise keeper has outlined plans to fulfilling the promise he made to them during the campaigns. On Monday 17th February, 2025,
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, said his administration will train, supervise and certify Traditional Birth Attendants, (TBAs) to bring them up in line with contemporary practices in the primary healthcare system.
The Governor made this known while addressing the practitioners at their 2025 State Convention held at Ibom Hall, Uyo.
Traditional Birth Attendants played a significant role in our society. Growing up, our compound used to be a home away for pregnant women. My Grand Mother, popularly called “Mma Maggi”, culled from her first name Margaret played host to these women as she often monitored the progress of their pregnancy at different phases, organised prayer session for them, administered traditional medicine for the women and help delivered their babies when its time for delivery.
My Grand Mother often told us that there were instances where some pregnant women were being directed to her even from the hospital. One very important thing that gave her so much joy when she was alive was the fact that no pregnant woman died in her hands all through the period she practiced the profession. She was fond of telling us how God revealed to her in a dream of the night that she was going to be a Traditional Birth Attendant. To further confirmed my story, my mother told us that my grand mother helped in the delivery of my humble self and all my siblings. She was a great woman. She went to be with the Lord in 1995. How I wish she was still alive to benefit from the packages that the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno unveiled for the Traditional Birth Attendants in recognition of their contributions to the society. Apart from my Grand Mother, several women across the State are quietly contributing to the society working as Traditional Birth Attendants, as evidents by the number of people that turn up for the event.
The Governor had already issued a directive to the Ministry of Health, to undertake the training of practitioners to certify them as community healthcare workers.
He acknowledged the role of Traditional Birth Attendants as a part of the State’s social fabric given their role in caring for pregnant women and therefore directed that, upon acquiring the skills, they should be upgraded and incorporated into the primary healthcare system of the State.
He expressed optimism that with training, the profile of the TBAs and their wealth of experience as providers of essential services, will be further enhanced to aid healthcare delivery in the State and will align their practice with current medical advancements and standards.
“As society evolves, and old approaches get subjected to modern and advanced methods to ensure wholesome and holistic outcomes, I wish to implore and advice that, you also, if I may add, reinvent your methods of carrying out your duties. We are willing to partner with you to train, supervise and certify your members so that the service you provide are aligned with contemporay methods thus making it more acceptable to the larger society.”
Expressing gratitude for the confidence and trust the group exhibited by supporting his emergence in the 2023 elections, as well as their endorsement for him to go for second term, Governor Eno reaffirmed his commitment to making them a critical component of his ARISE Agenda by touching lives and ensuring a healthy and productive population through investment 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.”
“We are doing a lot in healthcare service. Soon, we will flag-off our Mother-Child Hospital to be located along our Medical Corridor. We are building more primary healthcare facilities across the ten federal constituencies. Once the trainings are concluded, you will be assigned to these primary healthcare facilities where your skills garnered traditionally will align with trainings you have received and we will all be winners.”
The President, Akwa Ibom State Traditional Birth Attendants, Comrade Otobong George, in his welcome remarks, thanked the Governor for identifying with them and showing interest in bringing innovation to their profession.
Comrade George who further emphasized the importance of TBAs in the provision of immediate care in the case of inaccessibility to medical facilities, called 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.
The President, along side the entire members, who were delighted at the development strides of the Governor, especially in the health sector, unanimously declared their support for Governor Umo Eno to go for a second term in 2027.
