Health
Otti to crack down on traditional birth practice in Abia
Written By: Udo Inobeme
29 Sep 2025 04:48 AM
Umuahia, Abia – Abia State Governor Alex Otti has once again voiced his disapproval of pregnant women opting for traditional birth attendants (TBAs) over government hospitals, calling the practice a dangerous relic that endangers lives and undermines the state’s healthcare advancements.
The governor’s latest rebuke came during the operational launch of the retrofitted Ohiya Primary Health Centre in Umuahia South Local Government Area on Sunday, where he reiterated his administration’s zero-tolerance stance on unregulated childbirth practices.
Represented by Health Commissioner Professor Enoch Oggbonnaya Uche, Otti expressed deep concern over the persistent reliance on TBAs, highlighting the tragic loss of lives due to complications that could have been managed in medical facilities.
“It is regrettable that many women have lost their lives due to uncontrolled complications at traditional birth places,” he stated, emphasizing the state’s commitment to safeguarding maternal and child health.
The governor’s remarks underscore a growing frustration with a cultural preference that he believes clashes with modern medical standards, despite ongoing efforts to improve healthcare infrastructure.
The Ohiya PHC launch marks a milestone in Otti’s ambitious plan to retrofit 200 primary healthcare centers across Abia’s wards, a flagship initiative aimed at ensuring accessible, quality care for all citizens.
The facility, now equipped with enhanced medical capabilities, symbolizes the governor’s vision to phase out reliance on TBAs, whom he has repeatedly criticized for lacking the skills to handle emergencies.
Otti warned of decisive action against operators of traditional birth sites, urging community leaders to embrace and protect these upgraded centers as vital community assets.
The issue strikes at the heart of a broader challenge in Nigeria, where over 60% of births occur outside medical facilities, often with TBAs, according to the Guardian.
In Abia, this trend persists despite Otti’s administration’s investments, fueled by factors like distrust in public health systems, high hospital costs, and cultural trust in traditional methods.
The governor’s comments echo earlier concerns raised in July 2024 by the Guardian, which noted TBAs’ vital role in Lagos but also their limitations, a duality Otti seems unwilling to tolerate in his state.
The tension highlights a cultural divide that Otti’s administration must navigate as it pushes for modernization.
The governor’s latest rebuke came during the operational launch of the retrofitted Ohiya Primary Health Centre in Umuahia South Local Government Area on Sunday, where he reiterated his administration’s zero-tolerance stance on unregulated childbirth practices.
Represented by Health Commissioner Professor Enoch Oggbonnaya Uche, Otti expressed deep concern over the persistent reliance on TBAs, highlighting the tragic loss of lives due to complications that could have been managed in medical facilities.
“It is regrettable that many women have lost their lives due to uncontrolled complications at traditional birth places,” he stated, emphasizing the state’s commitment to safeguarding maternal and child health.
The governor’s remarks underscore a growing frustration with a cultural preference that he believes clashes with modern medical standards, despite ongoing efforts to improve healthcare infrastructure.
The Ohiya PHC launch marks a milestone in Otti’s ambitious plan to retrofit 200 primary healthcare centers across Abia’s wards, a flagship initiative aimed at ensuring accessible, quality care for all citizens.
The facility, now equipped with enhanced medical capabilities, symbolizes the governor’s vision to phase out reliance on TBAs, whom he has repeatedly criticized for lacking the skills to handle emergencies.
Otti warned of decisive action against operators of traditional birth sites, urging community leaders to embrace and protect these upgraded centers as vital community assets.
The issue strikes at the heart of a broader challenge in Nigeria, where over 60% of births occur outside medical facilities, often with TBAs, according to the Guardian.
In Abia, this trend persists despite Otti’s administration’s investments, fueled by factors like distrust in public health systems, high hospital costs, and cultural trust in traditional methods.
The governor’s comments echo earlier concerns raised in July 2024 by the Guardian, which noted TBAs’ vital role in Lagos but also their limitations, a duality Otti seems unwilling to tolerate in his state.
The tension highlights a cultural divide that Otti’s administration must navigate as it pushes for modernization.
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