A newly renovated primary healthcare centre in Abia State has successfully carried out an emergency caesarean section that resulted in the safe delivery of twin babies, in what health officials described as a rare medical achievement at the primary healthcare level.
The procedure took place at the Ohiya Primary Healthcare Centre in Umuahia South Local Government Area, where a 24-year-old woman, Mrs Chikamso Ibekwe, who developed severe pregnancy complications, was delivered of twin boys on Monday, March 23, 2026.
The patient was said to have been suffering from eclampsia, a serious pregnancy condition marked by seizures and dangerously high blood pressure, which often poses a high risk to both mother and child if not urgently treated.
Abia State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, who visited the facility on Thursday, described the successful operation as a strong indication that ongoing reforms in the state’s health sector are beginning to produce tangible results.
Uche said the feat was made possible due to improvements in infrastructure, equipment and manpower under Governor Alex Otti’s healthcare reform programme known as Project Ekwueme.
According to him, the presence of modern medical equipment, oxygen supply, essential drugs and trained personnel enabled the facility to manage the life-threatening condition and carry out the surgery successfully.
He explained that eclampsia remains one of the leading causes of maternal and infant deaths, noting that without swift intervention, the case could have resulted in a tragic outcome.
The commissioner further revealed that the state government is planning to deploy mobile medical teams that will respond quickly to emergency situations across communities, particularly in rural areas, as part of efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery.
The doctor who led the medical team during the operation, Dr Joseph Ngene, said the patient arrived at the centre in a critical condition with extremely high blood pressure and repeated seizures.
He said the team first stabilised her condition and managed the seizures before proceeding with the emergency caesarean section, which led to the successful delivery of the twins.
Ngene added that both the mother and the babies responded well to treatment and are currently stable.
Also speaking, the Health Authority Secretary of Umuahia South Local Government Area, Mrs Eucharia Igwe, attributed the success to the recent upgrade of the facility, noting that the centre now has trained personnel and improved operational units capable of handling emergency cases.
She assured residents that the government’s intervention has significantly improved access to quality healthcare services in the area.
In his reaction, the Deputy Traditional Prime Minister of Ohiya Autonomous Community, Chief Ubadire Agoha, commended the state government for prioritising healthcare development, saying the improvements were already benefiting people in the community.
The patient’s husband, Mr Patrick Ibekwe, expressed gratitude to the government and the medical team for saving the lives of his wife and children.
He also appreciated the financial assistance given to the family by the state government, noting that the upgraded healthcare facility has brought much-needed relief to residents of the community.
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