A newly upgraded primary healthcare facility in Abia State has recorded a major medical milestone, successfully handling a life-threatening obstetric emergency that led to the safe delivery of twin babies.
At the retrofitted Ohiya Primary Healthcare Centre, a 24-year-old patient, Mrs. Chikamso Ibekwe, delivered twin boys weighing 3.2 kilogrammes each through an emergency caesarean section after suffering from Eclampsia – a severe and potentially fatal pregnancy condition.
The procedure, carried out on March 23, 2026, is considered a rare achievement at the primary healthcare level, where such complex cases are typically referred to higher-level medical facilities.
During a visit to the centre, the Abia State Commissioner for Health, Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, described the successful outcome as strong evidence of ongoing healthcare reforms under Governor Alex Otti’s Project Ekwueme initiative.
He noted that the availability of modern medical equipment, essential drugs, oxygen supply, and skilled healthcare personnel made it possible to manage the critical situation effectively – something that would have been unlikely in the past.
Uche highlighted that eclampsia remains one of the leading causes of maternal and infant mortality, adding that without timely intervention, the case could have resulted in multiple fatalities.
According to him, the development reflects the positive impact of the state’s investment in primary healthcare infrastructure, as such high-risk procedures were rarely performed in PHCs due to limited capacity.
He further revealed plans by the state government to deploy roving medical teams to respond quickly to emergencies, particularly in rural communities, as part of efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery and reduce maternal deaths.
The medical doctor who led the procedure, Joseph Ngene, explained that the patient arrived in critical condition with dangerously high blood pressure and seizures. The team quickly stabilised her, controlled the seizures, and performed the emergency surgery, leading to the successful delivery of the twins.
He confirmed that both mother and babies responded well to treatment and are in stable condition.
Also speaking, the Health Authority Secretary of Umuahia South LGA, Eucharia Igwe, attributed the success to the recent upgrade of the facility. She assured residents that the centre is now better equipped with trained personnel and functional units capable of handling emergency medical cases.
