by crossriverwatch admin
Mrs. Augusta Arikwu, a sixteen years old mother has lauded Senator Liyel Imoke the Cross River State governor for the free health care for pregnant women and children under the age of five which she said saved her life when she gave birth to her first baby.
Mrs. Ariku who is barely three feet in height said when she was pregnant with her son John Arikwu who is now two years old, she did not know about the free health care until she went for antenatal care and the nurses at the
Okpoma Health Center told her medical care is free for pregnant women and children under the age of five. “I was very happy because I did not have enough money to pay for the drugs and ante natal care”.
Mrs. Arikwu told CrossRiverWatch in Okpoma, Yala Local Government Area during the flag off of the 2014 Maternal and New Born Health Week that she attended the antenatal care for the duration of her pregnancy free and when she gave birth, she was not subjected to any charges by the hospital authorities. “I was well treated and taken care of by the nurses and one of them even escorted me home with my baby”.
Mrs. Ariku who is again pregnant says she has been attending ante natal dutifully and expects to deliver in the next few weeks. “I am getting close to my delivery period and my husband and I have been expectant and hope that this delivery will be like the one of my son which was without any difficulty”.
She expressed hope that the next governor of the state will continue with the free health program so that the lives of pregnant mothers like herself will be safe guarded as they access health care in any part of the state.
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