In a major medical feat, the newly retrofitted Ohiya Primary Healthcare Centre in Umuahia South Local Government Area successfully handled a life-threatening obstetric emergency, as a woman suffering from severe pregnancy complications, Eclampsia, delivered twin babies through an emergency caesarean section.

The 24-year-old patient, Mrs Chikamso Ibekwe, was delivered of twin boys weighing 3.2 kilogrammes each on Monday, March 23, 2026, in a procedure considered rare at the primary healthcare level.

Confirming the development, the State Commissioner for Health, Professor Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, who visited the facility on Thursday, described the outcome as validation of Governor Alex Otti’s ongoing healthcare reforms under the Project Ekwueme initiative. He noted that the availability of modern equipment, drugs, oxygen and skilled personnel made it possible to manage the life-threatening condition at a primary healthcare facility, a development previously considered unlikely.

Uche explained that eclampsia remains one of the leading causes of maternal and infant mortality, stressing that the patient’s condition could have resulted in multiple fatalities without prompt medical intervention.

He said the ministry received a positive report shortly after the State Executive Council meeting, confirming that the emergency caesarean delivery was successfully carried out at the upgraded PHC. According to him, the development demonstrates that the state’s investment in primary healthcare infrastructure is yielding results. He added that such complex emergency procedures were rarely performed at PHCs in the past due to inadequate facilities and manpower.

The commissioner further disclosed that the state government plans to introduce roving medical teams capable of responding swiftly to emergencies across communities, particularly in rural areas, with the aim of strengthening emergency response systems and reducing maternal mortality.

Also speaking, the doctor who carried out the procedure, Dr Joseph Ngene, said the patient arrived in critical condition with extremely high blood pressure and seizures. He explained that the medical team stabilised her condition, controlled the seizures and carried out the emergency caesarean section, leading to the safe delivery of the twins. He added that both the mother and babies responded well to treatment.

Earlier, the Health Authority Secretary of Umuahia South LGA, Mrs Eucharia Igwe, attributed the success to the recent upgrade of the facility by the state government. She noted that the PHC is now equipped with trained personnel and functional units capable of handling emergency cases, assuring residents of improved healthcare services.

Reacting to the development, the Deputy Traditional Prime Minister of Ohiya Autonomous Community, Chief Ubadire Agoha, commended the Otti administration for prioritising the health sector, noting that the intervention is already yielding positive results. He expressed optimism that the improved facility would encourage more residents to seek quality healthcare within the community.

The patient’s husband, Mr Patrick Ibekwe, also expressed gratitude to the state government, describing the intervention as life-saving. He thanked the governor for improving healthcare services and for saving the lives of his wife and children.

Ibekwe, a mechanic who also received financial support from the state government, prayed for continued progress for the administration, noting that the upgraded healthcare facility has brought relief to residents of the community. (The PUNCH)